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Feb 01, 2017 Father John Misty By Christopher Roberts

Father John Misty (aka Josh Tillman) is releasing a new 75-minute long album, Pure Comedy, on April 7 via Sub Pop worldwide (except in Europe, where it’s a Bella Union release). He’s already shared the six-and-a-half minute title track, “Pure Comedy,” which comments on our current society, politics, and religion, via an accompanying video featuring images of President Donald Trump, among others. Then he shared another new song from the album, “Two Wildly Different Perspectives,” via its video featuring images of kids interacting with guns. Wasting no time, just two days after sharing “Two Wildly Different Perspectives,” Tillman has now shared another song from the album, “Ballad of the Dying Man.” It features the choice lyric: “Eventually the dying man takes his final breath, but first checks his news feed to see what he’s about to miss.” Listen below.

Tillman and long-time producer Jonathan Wilson co-produced Pure Comedy, which was mixed by Tillman, Wilson, and Trevor Spencer, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios. Pure Comedy features string, horn, and choral arrangements by Gavin Bryars (Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Sinking of the Titanic) and there are additional contributions from Nico Muhly and Thomas Bartlett. The album’s front/back covers and gatefold feature a “gargantuan original piece” by Ed Steed (The New Yorker). The deluxe 2xLP version will be on aluminum & copper vinyl and includes “a die-cut customizable jacket with four interactive ‘background’ sleeves (so you can have whatever sky you damn well feel like as the cover), all encased in a clear slipcase. Includes a fold-out poster and an exclusive holographic tarot card by Ed Steed.”

The album is the follow-up to Father John Misty’s excellent 2015-released sophomore album, I Love You, Honeybear. I Love You, Honeybear, was Under the Radar’s #1 album of 2015. Consequently, Father John Misty was on the cover of our Best of 2015 print issue and you can read that cover story article here. Also read our earlier 2015 print article on Father John Misty and our earlier 2015 bonus Q&A with Tillman (also read our 2012 interview with him).