Buy Father John Misty At Side A Vinyl
Some albums shout for your attention. Others sit quietly in the corner and wait for you to notice them. God's Favorite Customer is firmly in the second category.
Released in 2018, this album finds Father John Misty (aka Josh Tillman) at his most emotionally stripped down. If I Love You, Honeybear was theatrical and Pure Comedy was philosophical, this one is deeply personal. It was written during a two-month stretch while Misty lived in a hotel, wrestling with heartbreak and existential dread. And you can feel that weight in every song.
Right now, I have this one spinning in-store again. And for good reason. It’s the kind of record that sounds different depending on your mood—comforting, devastating, or even weirdly funny.
Highlights? There are many. “Mr. Tillman” is a piano-driven satire of the hotel staff’s thinly veiled concern for his well-being. It’s hilarious and unsettling. “Please Don’t Die” is a plea wrapped in melody. And “The Songwriter” might just be one of the saddest love songs I’ve ever heard.
Production-wise, this album is more restrained than his other work. The arrangements are simple, letting the lyrics breathe. It feels less like performance and more like confession.
If you’re into singer-songwriters with a dark sense of humor and a whole lot of heart, this album is for you. It’s not trying to impress you. It’s just telling the truth.
We have a few copies on vinyl in the shop. Light blue Newbury Comics pressings, plus a standard black LP. Definitely one to pick up if you want something that hits you in the gut, then stays with you long after the last track.