Father John Misty Had a Busy Week; Check Out His Latest Release, “Holy Hell”
Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, has had one a hell of a week. A social media storm was a-brewin’ after FJM discovered that his 2012 track, “Hollywood Forever Cemetary Sings,” was covered by a contestant on The Voice. Though Aaron Gibson’s rendition of the Fear Fun track was applauded by the The Voice’s judges, Tillman’s reaction was simple: “Why God why.” The singer-songwriter didn’t stop there, expressing disapproval through Facebook statuses riddled with his usual dry humor.
Not everyone saw the humor. FJM’s Facebook feed was quickly flooded with comments accusing the artist of being a bully and chastising him for not appreciating Gibson’s apparent admiration. On the other hand, plenty of fans rushed to FJM’s defense, agreeing that an artist is not obligated to appreciate a recreation of his or her own original work if they simply don’t.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJSvFX829PA[/embedyt]
Tillman added to the flurry of activity on his social media feed by turning the tide of the conversation from reality television towards the election (as if there is a difference between the two). He encouraged fans to channel their passion for The Voice into direct over-the-phone action, providing a phone number for Republican House of Reps Speaker Paul Ryan. According to FJM, it’s more productive than “creating a terrifying frog meme or spray-painting a swastika on a children’s park.”
On Monday evening, Father John Misty dropped a brand new track entitled “Holy Hell” to top off all of the excitement. Touché on the week-long comical and controversial build-up, FJM! On “Holy Hell,” Tillman pairs the bare and dismal sound of his piano with lyrics that unmistakably speak to the state of the country since November 8.
Tillman is spot on, referring to the polarized attitude of the nation as an “unfathomable, nameless rift,” then immediately questioning if that rift “even exists.” His words seek to poke holes in the media’s perpetuation of propaganda and the public’s inability to see through it. But Father John Misty has a message of unification to share with the rest of us as well. “The world won’t end unless we want it to. There’s no one in control; it’s our life to choose.” Encouraging, or idealistic? That’s up to the listener. As simple as the track may be, it’s food for thought no matter what side you find yourself standing on these days.
No word yet on whether or not the no-frills, straightforward song is finished or will provide the bones for a meatier version later on. It’s the second original song that Father John has released since his 2015 sophomore album I Love You, Honeybear. In the spring of this year he released the single “Real Love Baby,” which he claims will not be found on any future full-length albums. Whether or not “Holy Hell” will find its final resting place on SoundCloud or on an upcoming studio release remains to be seen. But, the current sociopolitical climate is pretty much asking for a satirical album chock full of Father John Misty’s disparagement humor. Just sayin’…
