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Father John Misty — 493

 

ALBUM: Pure Comedy (2017)

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$$

Lot of things going on here. Josh Tillman           aka Father John Misty is a smart guy. I think he knows it.

Pure Comedy is a song that is near brilliant.

Tillman’s story in one sentence: The drummer of folk rock group Fleet Foxes took some psilocybin mushrooms a few years ago, became enlightened, started using a pseudonym, and began wearing better clothes.

Couple of anomalies to clear up before I go forward. The usual My Vinyl Countdown records are ones I picked in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I’ve been counting them down, 678 in all, to raise awareness of Lewy body dementia, which I have. I have about 500 records to go .

Pure Comedy breaks the mode a bit in that this is a 2017 vinyl recording that I received from family members who want to extend my life under the theory that the more I have the more time I have to live. And it is true that this disease shortens lifespans but that I have vowed to finish the reviews, which on my current pace will be about 2 or more years from now unless I accelerate.

So, anomaly one, this is contemporary. Not my golden 1980s — stop-making-synth records. I will review and countdown new vinyl, when I get it and have done  so at least two other times with Joseph Arthur and Max DeMarco.

I have some more coming up, including, I believe, the Fleet Foxes which connects to the Misty record here.

And, anomaly two, this double record set came with two of the same records – I got two side 3’s and side 4s. I did not get a side 1 and 2.  What the hell? It’s a factory packaging mistake that in no way makes it more valuable. So, I filled in the rest of this record by going on YouTube to listen to the songs I was missing, especially the title track, a key song here.

Opening line is one strong couplet, foreshadowing and outlining the album’s life-is-so-bad-it’s-funny themes. The  comedy of it all. The divine comedy of it all. Star.

The comedy of man starts like this; our brains are way too big for our mother’s hips.

But the album itself cannot stay at that high level and sinks slowly back into the primordial pool. To make this totally work, you would have to love the words so much to hang with this singer who is not working much in traditional pop structures. Dylan could be like that – so could early Billy Joel who went 180 degrees the other way later toward more formulaic derivative pop.

Would it be fair to say Tillman is somewhere between Billy Joel and Bob Dylan? Probably not. More like a day-glo Randy Newman.

But Tillman started something, by starting the album  in this way. He caused me  to be on alert for a real honest-to-God trailblazing singer-songwriter. The rest of the album didn’t tip me over though. So he is still on my ‘watch’ list. Update: I just watched/saw Misty’s ‘God’s Favorite Customer’ on  YouTube.  Excellent. Beautiful. I’m starting to tip. Then I watched ‘Mr.  Tillman video. Wow. Now I have to get this on vinyl  and put the new one on my countdown.

Back to Pure Comedy, here’s the opening that says it all and forecasts more:

The comedy of man starts like this; our brains are way too big for our mother’s hips.

And so nature, she divines this alternative:
We emerge half-formed and hope whoever greets us on the other end

Is kind enough to fill us in

And babies, that’s pretty much how it’s been ever since

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Staying Alive

Requip. Memantine. Sinemet. Vinyl.

Now which of these will help me live longer?

The first three are drugs I’ve taken or am taking to battle my disease. While  they will help with the symptoms, they aren’t proven to stop this disease.

I have Lewy Body dementia and my life is expected to be 5 to 7 years (but varies widely) after diagnosis. I was diagnosed 13 months ago at age 56.

For more of my story click on the About Me button and  read some of the links.

The fourth item, Vinyl, as in vinyl records is what I am banking on. I am reviewing on this  website my collection of vinyl records, mostly from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s’. I have 678 records. I’ve made a vow to  complete my collection before I go to that big used record store in the sky.

So my birthday — which was on Nov. 9 this year* — my sister Julie sends me albums. New vinyl record albums not some rummage sale used discs. And she said there will be more at other events in time. She said they are going to keep me alive longer.

And you know I think she’s right, this project which I am loving will keep me going. And I’ve got a long way to go..

And it’s getting longer. Four more records I haven’t even heard  of. (Well I know Fleet Foxes a little.)

Here’s what Julie and Rob and family sent me. I’ve listened to some but am not ready to review. I will slip them in alphabetically as I am doing. I’m in the B’s right now.

  • “Crack-up” by Fleet Foxes.
  • “Milano” by Danielle Luppis & Parouet Courts.
  • “Relatives in Descent” by Protomartyr
  • “Pure Comedy” by Father John Misty

And one that I picked up at a mini concert on the back porch of a basketball buddy of mine. It’s a husband wife team and the band and album is called:  When Particles Collide “This Town.”

So here’s some exciting new music I’ll be reviewing after I get to know them a bit.

Thanks and much love to  Julie, Rob, Sophie, Rachel, Graeme,  Jake and my lovely daughter Emily.

*Interesting note, but that’s what my b-day was last year.