Dear Diary,
Over the past 24 hours I’ve listened to a man completely
expose himself; the good, the bad, the ugly. Father John Misty’s newest album
‘I Love You, Honeybear’ is a true and honest approach about his experience with
falling in love with his wife. It isn’t intentionally gushy and is very raw.
Love is a beautiful thing but it hasn’t been pretty.
My coffee seems to stir differently while I listen to ‘Bored
in the USA’; a piano ballad about the current state of human beings, which, is
tragic and comic simultaneously – “Save me President Jesus!”
‘Strange Encounter’ – a track that details a low point in
his relationship which was induced by drugs and a near death experience – left
me feeling honored and almost bashful to hear something so intimate . It’s
heavy (of course) and haunting but still keeps a loose way about it. Overall,
the album has variety. From mariachi bands in ‘Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two
Virgins)’ to techy folk-pop in ‘True Affection’; a song that addresses the
angst in establishing a relationship flirtatiously via technology. Josh Tillman
leaves no stone unturned. He is wide-open with the blundering reality of his
shortcomings and self-perceived unworthiness of what he has been given. In ‘The
Ideal Husband’, Tillman’s anger in himself and discontent with his behavior
almost screams through waling riffs and banging tempos.
Once a non-believer, Josh has conformed (albeit a surprise
to himself and begrudgingly) but not to any category of typical dogma or ethos
“Say, do you wanna get married, and put an end to our endless, progressive
tendency to scorn provincial concepts like your ‘dowry’ and your ‘Daddy’s
farm’?” Throughout this entire album Tillman finds himself through his wife’s
eyes, seemingly – “You see me as I am, it’s true. The aimless, fake drifter and
the horny, man-child, Mamma’s boy to boot.” He understands that being truly
seen can only help you see, therefore, ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ is written with
20/20 vision into a relationship, not only with the love of Tillman’s life, but
with his listeners as well.
It’s powerful, it’s thought provoking. It will remind you of
past relationships, current trysts with love, and perhaps prepare you for what
is to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment