In typical sardonic Josh Tillman style, his new release as Father John Misty comes with a warning message that this ‘compilation features mostly old music’ and he’s not wrong – ‘Greatish Hits: I Followed My Dreams and My Dreams Said to Crawl’ is in essence, a celebration of his wondrous work so far, bar one brand new song ‘I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All’ which Tillman has been sporadically performing live since 2019.
This new album also sees fan favourite ‘Real Love Baby’ collected on an LP for the first time. It appears alongside a career-spanning collection of songs taken from his five widely acclaimed albums, including his witty and irreverent debut ‘Fear Fun’, ‘I Love You, Honeybear’, the Grammy-nominated ‘Pure Comedy’, 2018’s ‘God’s Favorite Customer’, and his most recent offering, the ambitious ‘Chloë and The Next 20th Century’.
‘I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All’ – with the line that inspired the album title ‘The great-ish minds of my generation’ – closes the compilation, and is also set to feature on a new album that is set for release later this year,
The generational singer-songwriter and former member of indie-folk giants Fleet Foxes first started making waves with his impressive sophomore concept 2015 album ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ a sumptuously epic homage to Josh Tillman’s relationship with his wife. Raw and emotive in its entirety, the album spawned fan favourites which are included in this new compilation such as upbeat ballad ‘Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)’ which sees Father John Misty recall the early moments from his relationship with his wife Emma and the cacophony of emotions that ensue whilst falling in love such as joy, elation, curiosity and confusion.
With lines like ‘And I haven’t hated all the same things / As somebody else / Since I remember’ with its soaring orchestral sweeps and elegant trumpets, it’s sentimental, but not saccharine and is absolutely sublime.
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‘When You’re Smiling And Astride Me’ and ‘Holy Shit’ are fantastic inclusions from ‘Honeybear’ on the ‘Greatish Hits’ album, although it would have been fantastic to have the existential crisis that is ‘Bored in the USA’ in there too.
“I can hardly believe I found you and I’m terrified by that,” he sings on ‘When You’re Smiling and Astride Me’ sees FJM at his confessional best and like the album of the same name, he fluctuates between bewilderment, tenderness and world weary cynicism.
He touches upon his real life persona in ‘Mr. Tillman’ from the introspective and pared back ‘God’s Favorite Customer’ which is narrated from the perspective of a hotel employee witnessing Mr. Tillman’s rather eccentric behaviour. As with the majority of Father John Misty’s lyrics, ‘Mr Tillman’ is witty and sarcastic, and the juxtaposition between the dark subject matter of the protagonist’s deteriorating mental health coupled with the upbeat melody is one of the many standout moments of the album.
‘Disappointing Diamonds Are The Rarest of Them All’ with its effervescent Beatles-esque hooks, piano jangles and infinitely catchy chorus is sonically lush and feels almost cinematic.
Often regarded as his finest work to date, tracks from ‘Pure Comedy’ are also stellar additions to ‘Greatish Hits’ with the track of the same name and the post-apocalyptic ‘Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution’ both of which reiterate why FJM excels with his multi-layered and revelatory storytelling.
Intriguingly, only two tracks from Father John Misty’s most recent album, the lush, sepia-toned ‘Chloë and the Next 20th Century’ make an appearance in the shape of ‘Buddy’s Rendezvous’ and ‘Goodbye Mr. Blue. The latter’ tells the story of how the death of a beloved Turkish angora cat subsequently resurrected a failing relationship. With Tillman fretting ‘This may be the last time I lay here with you,” sings Tillman, anxiously adding: “Do you swear it’s not the cat? You don’t have to answer that, I’ll just make do’.
‘Real Love Baby’ is lavish, discerningly honest and is a glorious pastiche that talks of the power of love and surrendering your everything to it.
I was a late convert to the church of Father John Misty (circa 2018), but hallelujah I am now a devout believer – ‘Greatish Hits: I Followed My Dreams and My Dreams Said To Crawl’ is an eclectic and impressive collection of Father John Misty’s candour, artistry, and emotive storytelling. Whether you are already worshipping at the altar of the Father or are a new devotee looking to discover more of his work, then ‘Greatish Hits’ is the perfect way to celebrate all things Misty.
9/10
Words: Emma Harrison // @emmahwriter
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