Father John Misty has shared his disorienting new video for “Mr. Tillman,” the first single off his upcoming new album God’s Favorite Customer. Just as the song’s lyrics zero in on the singer’s unpleasant experience at a hotel, the “Mr. Tillman” video is like The Shining meets “Hotel California,” as Father John Misty is doomed to relive his stay and inability to leave countless times. The result is interactions with doppelgangers, an attempted suicide and a taxicab escape.
In February, the singer, whose real name is Josh Tillman, unveiled “Mr. Tillman” along with a low-budget green-screened video of himself messing around in a hotel.
Father John Misty has previously released two songs, “Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All” and “Just Dumb Enough to Try,” from his forthcoming album God’s Favorite Customer, the speedy follow-up to 2017’s Pure Comedy. God’s Favorite Customer arrives June 1st.
“Mr. Tillman” is off of Father John Misty’s upcoming album, God’s Favorite Customer, out June 1st on Sub Pop and Bella Union.
After information about his new album leaked, Father John Misty has formally announced the release of his fourth album, God’s Favorite Customer, along with two new singles.
A press release issued by Sub Pop Records, confirms the leaked album, including the tracklist, the album art (photographed by Pari Dukovic), and the June 1st release via Sub Pop and Bella Union Records. The follow-up to Pure Comedy was written and produced by Misty, and recorded with Jonathan Rado, Dave Cerminara and Trevor Spencer. While the official album news is exciting, the real excitement comes in the full versions of the songs “Just Dumb Enough to Try” and “Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All,”.
Each song gives Misty a different angle by expanding his sound while staying true to his indie folk-rock roots. Both songs seem to be a nod to classic, 1970s Elton John, as “Just Dumb” goes for full singer-songwriter glory, with its lush production of jangling guitars and delicate strings leaning towards classic John ballads like “Candle in the Wind” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” “Disappointing Diamonds” is more of a throwback to “Benny and the Jets” and “Crocodile Rock” with its zany production built on huge piano chords and zooming electric guitar riffs.
The title track, which examines the ironic relationship between forgiveness and sin. Together, these are songs that demand to know either real love or what comes after, and as the album progresses, that entreaty leads to discovering the latter’s true stakes.
God’s Favorite Customer is available for preorder now on Father John Misty’s official store along with Sub Pop, Bella Union and select independent retailers in five formats: limited Loser edition on metallic purple vinyl, standard LP on black vinyl, CD, streaming and digital download, and cassette.
In addition to the album release, Misty will go on tour starting in April, in support of the album with Gillian Welch, TV on the Radio and Jenny Lewis serving as special guests at select shows.
Hopefully, the rest of 2018 will be filled with new surprises Misty has a hand in. Listen to “Just Dumb Enough to Try” and “Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All” below.
Father John Misty’s new song “Just Dumb Enough to Try” is off of his upcoming album, God’s Favorite Customer, out June 1st on Sub Pop and Bella Union.
Written largely in New York between Summer 2016 and Winter 2017, Josh Tillman’s fourth Father John Misty LP, God’s Favorite Customer, reflects on the experience of being caught between the vertigo of heartbreak and the manic throes of freedom. God’s Favorite Customer reveals a bitter sweetness and directness in Tillman’s songwriting, without sacrificing any of his wit or taste for the absurd. From Mr. Tillman, where he trains his lens on his own misadventure,
“Mr. Tillman” is off of Father John Misty’s upcoming album, God’s Favorite Customer, out June 1st on Sub Pop and Bella Union
God’s Favorite Customer was produced by Tillman and recorded with Jonathan Rado, Dave Cerminara, and Trevor Spencer. The album features contributions from Haxan Cloak, Natalie Merring of Weyes Blood, longtime collaborator Jonathan Wilson, and members of Misty’s touring band.
Father John Misty’s new song “Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All” is off of his upcoming album, God’s Favorite Customer, out June 1st on Sub Pop and Bella Union.
Father John Misty kicked off his ACL debut with the title track of his critically-acclaimed 2017 release “PureComedy”. His episode premieres January 6th. Watch Austin City Limits on PBS.
For more visit acltv.com. About the Episode Enjoy an hour of unconventional rock with Father John Misty and the Black Angels. Singer/songwriter Father John Misty showcases the lush sarcasm of his recent album PureComedy. Psych rockers the Black Angels highlight the dark grunge of Death Song.
Austin City Limits Austin City Limits (ACL) offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. The program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL is the longest-running music series in American television history .Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World.
Father John Misty offered up probably the most poignant and thoughtful tribute to Tom Petty with a soulful rendition of his “To Find a Friend” from the iconic Wildflowersrecord.
Performing at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, AZ, Josh Tillman took some time to pay homage to the late singer-songwriter with a solo acoustic version of the song.
If you’re having Father John Misty withdrawals since his last visit to the U.K never fear – his gorgeous new stop-motion video for the track “Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution” has just been released.
The Lennon-esque track is taken from the latest album Pure Comedy. He’s also announced that he will be auctioning off the puppets from the video to raise funds for the Environmental Defence Fund.
Welles make music that’s influenced from the past but is authentically present. It’s the thoughts and sounds of a busy and energetic mind. Their debut EP Codeine came out April 28th
I heard Sgt. Pepper’s in ‘97 – that album built every bike ramp I had from ‘97-’02 at least. I saw Queen on public access television and that was awe-inspiring. I saw local bands in Arkansas playing “Surf Wax America” in a shed in Fort Smith and that turned me green with envy, gave me a yearning to be the one playing live music late at night. There were tangents, small town dreams of athletic success, maybe be a poet, maybe get comfy with Nascar and Busch Lite in the river valley, marry a mobile home, but when I think of these tangents there’s always a soundtrack. A slide show riddled with clips of Electric Wizard, CCR, White Album, Bleach, Dead Moon, and my homemade attempts. In the end I’d be awfully uncomfortable doin’ anything else.
WELLES – “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” Father John Misty Cover
Recorded Live: 3/31/2017 – Paste Studios – New York, NY
Since 2012, Father John Misty, aka Josh Tillman, has unexpectedly emerged as a singular (if not undeniably, um, idiosyncratic) voice. Whether by virtue of his lyrics, which routinely defy the presumed polarities of wit and empathy; his live performances which may perhaps be described best as “intimately berzerk”, or the infuriating line he seems to occupy between canny and total fraud online or in interviews, Father John Misty has cultivated a rare space for himself in the musical landscape – that of a real enigma. Pure Comedy sees Tillman at the height of these powers: as a lyricist, and equally so a cultural observer – at times bordering on freakishly prescient. Tillman’s bent critiques, bared humanity and gently warped classic songwriting are all here in equal measure and – at 75 minutes – there’s a veritable fuck ton of it. The album navigates themes of progress, technology, fame, the environment, politics, aging, social media, human nature, human connection and his own role in it all with his usual candour, and in terms as timely as they are timeless.
Tillman wrote the majority of Pure Comedy throughout 2015 and recorded all the basic tracking and vocals live to tape (in no more than two takes each) at United Studios (fka the legendary Ocean Way Studios, favored by Frank Sinatra and The Beach Boys) in Los Angeles March 2016.
Pure Comedy was co-produced once again by Josh Tillman and long-time producer Jonathan Wilson; mixed by Tillman, Wilson and Trevor Spencer, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios. The album features string, horn and choral arrangements from classical iconoclast Gavin Bryars (Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Sinking Of The Titanic), with additional contributions from Nico Muhly and Thomas Bartlett.
Limited copies come with a 12 track bonus CD That’s Your Lot – The Bedroom Tapes. Following a breakthrough 2016 which saw them sell out London’s Scala, fill tents at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Latitude, ink a US deal with Canvasback / Atlantic and release a run of critically acclaimed singles, Blaenavon release their long awaited debut album, That’s Your Lot. Recorded with Grammy-winning producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Bjork) the LP marks a certain milestone for the band – a sumptuous, thrilling and brave collection of songs written throughout their teenage years and now fully realised. Intensely personal, yet exploring the universal experiences of friendship, sadness, hope, love held and lost, and all the confusions of youth – a body of work to help define a generation. That’s Your Lot includes I Will Be The World, Let’s Pray and My Bark Is Your Bite – a more than impressive run of singles championed by the likes of Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens, NME and Fader, whilst collectively racking up over 1,500,000 Spotify streams. The album will also feature explosive new single Orthodox Man, Blaenavon’s most immediate moment to date and already a firm fan favourite following a series of incredible live performances.
2LP – Limited Double Blue Vinyl with Fold Out Poster.
Diet Cig are here to have fun. They’re here to tear you away from the soul-sucking sanctity of your dumpster-fire life and replace it with pop-blessed punk jams about navigating the impending doom of adulthood when all you want is to have ice-cream on your birthday. Alex Luciano (guitar and vocals) and Noah Bowman (drums) have been playing music together ever since Luciano interrupted the set of Bowman’s other band for a lighter. The New Paltz, New York duo have since released the infectious, 2015 ‘Over Easy’ EP that introduced consistent sing-a-long lyrics with thrashing drums and strums that never held back. ‘Swear I’m Good At This’ is the first full-length from the band and accumulates their tenacity for crafting life-affirming, relatable tales with a gutsy heart at their core. Luciano has the ability to write lyrics that are both vulnerable and badass, perfecting a storm of emotive reflection that creates a vision of a sweaty, pumped-up room screaming these lines in unison. Diet Cig make it okay to be the hot mess that you are.
When Happyness first burst into the public conscience with 2013’s debut single ‘It’s On You’, their spirited take on US college rock was as big a surprise as it was an instant hit. The resulting full length, ‘Weird Little Birthday’, went on to feature in many of 2014’s End Of Year album lists. Worldwide tours, an NME Award, a re-issue on much-loved label Moshi Moshi Recordings (Bar/None in US) and millions of plays later, it is with some anticipation now that the band finally reveal the full details of the follow up.
Titled ‘Write In’, released through Moshi Moshi Recordings and featuring artwork from the band’s own Jon EE Allan, the record was made in the band’s own studio above a now-abandoned bookshop, then finished and mixed with Adam Lasus at his LA home studio.
‘Write In’ sets its stall out as an outward looking, inventive and thoughtful progression from their debut. Drawing on an array of influences including Roxy Music, The Beach Boys, Randy Newman, Sonic Youth, Big Star and Pierre Cavalli, the direction is best summed up by Jon EE Allan; “I’d like to think this record looks outside the little American alt-rock sphere we were looking in on. I think we used to be very afraid of being earnest. And now we’re able to be tender or heartfelt without feeling too guilty about it.”
One band who have been threatening a big breakthrough is female four-piece The Big Moon, who in 2016 were dubbed the coolest young band in Britain are destined to be huge in 2017 with their Slits and Elastica-inspired punky gems.
“Definitely a band to watch” – London On The Inside
“With each new release, they continue to reach brand new heights” – The Line of Best Fit
“Another sign of the band’s blossoming maturity and growing confidence as songwriters” – Clash
“London’s most exciting new quartet … The Big Moon are readying to shoot for the stars” – NME
“Another introduction to one of the buzziest new bands on the scene, it’s proof that they’re making all the right moves on their road to the top”
Canyons of My Mind is, as its title suggests, a landscape where the personal and the pastoral converge. Drawing inspiration from the biographies of literary figures like Charles Wright and Jim Harrison, Combs has created an album that explores the notion of sustainability in its many facets – artistic, economic, spiritual, environmental. “When I set out to record All These Dreams, I had a distinct vision of what I wanted the record to sound like. It was a cocktail of the Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Nilsson vibes that you can hear right there on the surface,” Combs says. “Canyons is much more personal. It’s a testament to my acceptance of who I am as a man, and who I am becoming.” The quiet struggles and satisfactions of carving out an identity in a world gone wrong are palpable throughout the album. Whether questing through the labyrinth of his own spiritual yearning, (Heart of Wonder), recreating a rail rider’s full-body sensation of freedom beneath an azure Montana sky (Rose Colored Blues), imagining a near-future dystopia where the very idea of green spaces has been annihilated (Dirty Rain), or channeling the desire of a peeping Tom who has fallen in love with his sylvan quarry (Hazel), Combs refines the vulnerable vagabond persona he mastered on All These Dreams while pushing it beyond those boundaries, into a more pastoral realm aligned with artists like Nick Drake and Tim Buckley.
At BBC6 Music Festival at Tramway, Father John Misty is in sparklingly clever and witty form and in a mood to build bridges following a car-crash BBC6 Music interview last year, thanking Radcliffe and Maconie for playing his new track “Ballad Of The Dying Man” despite what a miserable wretch I was on their show”.
The Sunday night show begins with a sermon from Father John Misty or to be more precise, a brief Q&A hosted by Lauren Laverne (Q: What can we expect from you today? A: “Songs. Feelings. Observations.”) at which he inavertently confirms himself for Glastonbury.
Father John Misty performs Ballad of the Dying Man at 6 Music Festival 2017.
The 45-minute set that follows – comprised almost entirely of tracks taken from new album ‘Pure Comedy’ – is a more verbose, self-referential affair; before playing ‘Ballad of the Dying Man’, he even takes a moment to apologise to Mark Radcliffe for his car-crash interview with the 6Music presenter last year, shrugging that, “I’m not always a very cool guy.” .
The undoubted highlight, however, is ‘Leaving L.A.’, whose 10-verse, 13-minute run time affords ample opportunity for sardonic ad-libbing “I ride for Nickelback” and “The comedy won’t stop even for little boys dying in department stores/ Or middle-aged men on promotional tours,” are just two of the standouts. Needless to say, the world is always a more entertaining place when Josh Tillman has a new record to promote.
As we get near the release date for Father John Misty’s much anticipated third album, “Pure Comedy”, the promotion for the record seems to be ramping up. From the countless quotable and thought-provoking interviews and articles to Saturday Night Live performances , it’s hard to deny that Josh Tillman has dominated the music press cycle over the last couple of months.
He once again found himself on the late-night TV stage as he returned to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to play Pure Comedy highlight “The Ballad of the Dying Man.” Compared to previous appearance on the show, Tillman keeps things on the tamer side and turns in an excellent performance, aided in no small part by the chorus of singers off to his left. There’s also a nice little moment where he slightly flubs a lyric heading into the song’s last verse and quickly laughs it off as he keeps on rolling.
Keeping up the momentum, this morning Josh Tillman announced a bevy of new international tour dates. From the looks of it, he’ll be on the road from now through to Thanksgiving, with only a few breaks in between, so if you were hoping to get a chance to see him bring Pure Comedy to life, then odds are you’ll have that chance (provided you live in North America or Europe). He’ll be joined throughout the year by a rotating slate of excellent supporting acts, including Jenny Lewis, Phosphorescent, Tennis and a lengthy run of shows with Weyes Blood.
Deluxe vinyl edition comes with four interchangeable colour schemes.
We’ve all gotten a bit worn out with Father John Misty lately, whether it’s take on Nickelback’s misunderstood classic “How You Remind Me” or his justification of the second controversial Taylor Swift lyric in the past few years. The man himself is completely aware of how his words come across in the press, yet he persists because he’s put it upon himself to save the “dying artform of interpretive thinking.”
This is why the man’s latest bit of promo for his forthcoming third studio LP, Pure Comedy, is such a welcome change of pace: It doesn’t involve Father John Misty speaking! Instead, you get to listen to some perfectly pleasant lounge music while he silently unboxes the album’s vinyl packing. It’s actually a really impressive display, and hopefully will go a good bit better than his previous venture into the world of deluxe packaging , Like I Love You, Honeybear, Pure Comedy goes to town on the vinyl packaging, although hopefully this time without the warping issue caused by the former’s ambitious pop-up artwork.
Father John Misty unboxes the deluxe vinyl edition of his forthcoming album Pure Comedy. Father John Misty’s album Pure Comedy will be released April 7th, 2017 on Deluxe 2xLP / 2xLP / CD / DL / CS in Europe through Bella Union and the rest of the world from Sub Pop.
The Fat Angel Sings 