Father John Misty - Chloe And The Next 20Th Century

Released: 08/04/22

The first track I ever heard by Father John Misty was the single Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' (from 2012 debut LP Fear Fun) and it astounded my on three counts: firstly, the song was a total jam; secondly, the video starred my crush-at-the-time Aubrey Plaza as a gloriously unhinged funeral-goer who smokes an apple pipe, munches on flowers, and generally goes off-reservation at the wake; and thirdly, and most confounding, it was by the ex drummer of Fleet Foxes?! No disrespect to the skin-pounders out there, but before FJM (AKA Josh Tillman), the most notable inductees into the pantheon of drummers-turned-solo artists were Phil Collins and Dave Grohl. Thankfully, with fifth album Chloë and The Next 20th Century we can once again reap the rewards of this aberration, and revel in the work of this singular post-modern balladeer who expertly navigates the sweet spot between the work of Harry Nilsson and John Cale. Long may it continue.