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Album Review: Father John Misty - 'Mahashmashana'

Father John Misty (Josh Tillman) is back with his latest LP this Friday, Mahashmashana! The title is a reference to a cremation ground and the title track that leads the album is pretty dark lyrically. Misty croons about inviting listeners to "Do the Corpse Dance" to a bombastic melody that doesn't at all feel like it should be tied to the lyrics. But in true Misty fashion, it just works.


Tillman's sixth release under the Misty moniker sees the singer/songwriter looking reflectingly on the death cycle, religion, mental health, and more. The album was produced by Tillman and Drew Erickson. It comes in at eight tracks, with a diverse range of run times throughout including a couple of eight and nine minute numbers that we've come to know and love from Misty.


Misty bops on the single "She Cleans Up" which features great guitar work and stylized vocals from the artist. The song is something that is so un-Misty but it's new and we loved it. It has tinges of psychedelia to it with overdriven guitars and horns that make the whole single just pop! "Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose" continues the upbeat vibes Misty started earlier with an impressive tune that has a little bit of everything. It moves so well throughout it's melody utilizing differing instrumentation at opportune moments while Misty gently sings over it. It culminates at the end with some strings and softly drifts away. Simply fantastic.


We would be remiss if we didn't mention the first single off of the album "Screamland". This song is by far the most significant departure from Misty's previous work. It features subdued vocals on the verses, however when the chorus hits Misty's vocals are perhaps the loudest we've heard them in his career. They're accompanied with an almost electronic tapestry that Misty and co. paint. It's not at all what we've come to expect from Misty, but that's one thing you can always say about him, "Expect the unexpected".


The album features great instrumentation, dynamic vocals from Misty (to the point where it seems effortless), and of course Misty's trademark whit in his lyrics. If you're a member of the "Canflub", you're going to love this one. Misty continues a trend of relying on more orchestral sounds similarly to how he did on Chloë and the Next 20th Century. If you're a fan of that album, (which we are) you'll love this as well. In short, come for the eccentric artist's lyrics and stay for the fun! Rating - 5/5



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