“Mascara, blood, ash, and cum /On the Rorschach sheets where we make love”
“I wanna take you in the kitchen / Lift up your wedding dress someone was probably murdered in”
“Oh, just a little bored in the USA / Save me, white Jesus”
These are just some of the quips singer-songwriter Josh Tillman places throughout I Love You, Honeybear, his second album as Father John Misty. Appropriately released the week of Valentine’s Day, it more often than not serves as an homage to his wife, Emma.
Whether or not all of the love-inspired anecdotes from Tillman’s lyrics are true, they definitely keep the listener more interested than the music by itself. On both the Misty debut Fear Fun and Honeybear, the variety in tempo is considerably lacking. Granted, this makes tracks such as “I’m Writing a Novel” (from Fear Fun), the electronically-charged “True Affection,” and “The Ideal Husband” much more appreciated. Alas, these upbeat tracks leave listeners wanting more than the beautiful arrangements of acoustic guitar and strings featured on the album’s self-titled track and the albums’ lead single “Bored in the USA.”
Nevertheless, it is evident Tillman is giving nothing less than his best with the new recordings. The arrangements are on point, the instruments and his voice are exceptionally clean, and the slower tempo of the album at least fits with the overall theme and Father John Misty’s sound. If you’re in the right mood, I Love You, Honeybear is a solid project to chill out to.
[…] Josh Tillman is self-loathing, anti-consumerist, a selfless lover, a comedian, and a musician all rolled-into one. Just look to “Bored in the USA” and you can witness the cheeky lyrics juxtaposed with softer musical tones, a vibe that is apparent through the project. Combine that with the uber-specific liner notes included in the physical copy, and you have an album that is worth experiencing multiple times over. Read my full review here. […]