God's Favorite Customer Father John Misty

• 1 Hangout at the Gallows 04:55
• 2 Mr. Tillman 03:03
• 3 Just Dumb Enough to Try 04:02
• 4 Date Night 02:30
• 5 Please Don't Die 03:24
• 6 The Palace 04:09
• 7 Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All 02:23
• 8 God's Favorite Customer 05:21
• 9 The Songwriter 03:45
• 10 We're Only People (And There's Not Much Anyone Can Do About That) 05:02
• Total Runtime 38:34

Info for God's Favorite Customer

Written largely in New York between summer 2016 and winter 2017, Josh Tillman’s fourth Father John Misty album, 'God’s Favorite Customer', reflects on the experience of being caught between the vertigo of heartbreak and the manic throes of freedom.

'God’s Favorite Customer' reveals a bittersweetness and directness in Tillman’s songwriting, without sacrificing any of his wit or taste for the absurd. From “Mr. Tillman,” where he trains his lens on his own misadventure, to the cavernous pain of estrangement in “Please Don’t Die,” Tillman plays with perspective throughout to alternatingly hilarious and devastating effect. “We’re Only People (And There’s Not Much Anyone Can Do About That)” is a meditation on our inner lives and the limitations we experience in our attempts to give and receive love. It stands in solidarity with the title track, which examines the ironic relationship between forgiveness and sin. Together, these are songs that demand to know either real love or what comes after, and as the album progresses, that entreaty leads to discovering the latter’s true stakes.

'God's Favorite Customer' was produced by Tillman and recorded with Jonathan Rado (Foxygen), Dave Cerminara (Jonathan Wilson, Foster the People, Conor Oberst), and Trevor Spencer (FJM). The album features contributions from Haxan Cloak, Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood, longtime collaborator Jonathan Wilson, and members of Misty’s touring band.

"Compared to Pure Comedy, the 2017 album that spread out over the course of 75 minutes, God's Favorite Customer feels light and breezy. That's intentional, of course. Father John Misty never makes a move that isn't considered, and God's Favorite Customer is designed to be the digestif after a multi-course feast: a palate cleanser that riffs upon the flavors lingering on the tongue. Josh Tillman may strip away the excesses of Pure Comedy -- there isn't a track that comes close to ten minutes; the longest are just barely over five minutes -- but he still favors stately ballads that conjure the ghost of early Elton John, the troubadour who created burnished epics instead of sprightly pop tunes. Misty may have a way with a melody, particularly ones with a melodramatic flair, along with a fondness for lush, louche surroundings, a combination that carries a sordid allure, but he's also compelled to undercut his appeal by stepping on his own rakishness. God's Favorite Customer is littered with asides and in-jokes, peaking with the winking self-parody of "Mr. Tillman" and bottoming on "The Palace," where Tillman offers the revelation "Last night I wrote a poem/Man, I must've been in the poem zone." As Tillman's voice is pushed to the front of the mix -- there's no hiding from the many words of this singer/songwriter -- it's difficult to avoid his lyrics, which will either play as devilishly clever or solipsistic slop depending on your perspective. Then again, that double edge is also by design: Father John Misty means to provoke and soothe in equal measure, which is precisely what he does on God's Favorite Customer." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)

Josh Tillman, guitar (1–8, 10), drums (1–5, 7, 8, 10), tambourine (1, 10), bass (2), piano (3, 6, 8–10), finger picking (3), Mellotron (3, 10), harmonica (5, 8), sleigh bells (5), additional instrumentation (6, 9), string arrangement (3)
Jonathan Rado, bass (1, 4, 5, 8, 10), guitar (1, 5, 8), DX-1 (4) piano (5), synthesizer (7), organ (8)
Jon Titterington, piano (1, 2, 4, 7), glockenspiel (2), synthesizer (2), accordion (5), trumpet (5), Wurlitzer (7, 8)
Bobby Krlic, strings (1), horns (1)
Jonathan Wilson, bass synthesizer (1), Crumar (1), organ (5, 9), electric (8)
Elijah Thomson, bass (3), solo (3)
Gabe Noel, cello (3, 6, 10), lap steel (3, 10), string arrangement (3, 10)
Mark Ronson, bass (7)
David Vandervelde, guitar (7, 10)
James King, saxophone (7)
Natalie Mering, vocals (8)

Father John Misty
brings folk into the 21st century with each eclectic element he incorporates into his unique sound, and his charismatic showmanship makes his live shows a must-see. When he's strumming his way through ballads like ìThe Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartmentî his emotional vocals and heartbreaking lyrics make alt-country fans feel right at home. But heís just as comfortable strutting his stuff to noisy, spiteful rockers like ìThe Ideal Husbandî and turning out full-blown electronica on tracks like the transcendently beautiful ìTrue Affectionî. With his singular combination of Americana traditions with cutting-edge sounds, Father John Misty is a folk icon for a new generation.

Before making his debut as Father John Misty in 2012, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Tillman was busy recording late-night demos in the Seattle-area. After self-releasing two CD-R demos he attracted the attention of Fargo Records, and in 2006 the label released his debut album Minor Works. In 2008 Tillman was tapped by indie darlings Fleet Foxes, who needed a drummer for the recording of their self-titled debut. Though he gained widespread exposure and success with Fleet Foxes, Tillman left to pursue his creative reinvention as Father John Misty in 2012. After a warm reception from critics and fans for his debut album Fear Fun, he set out on his first solo headlining tour. His 2015 follow-up album I Love You, Honeybear was a breakthrough success, appearing on best-of lists from esteemed sources like Pitchfork, Roughtrade, and Stereogum. As he continues to breathe new life into indie folk with his wide-ranging influences and poetic gifts, Father John Mistyís electrifying performances have fans eagerly anticipating whatís next from the innovative troubadour.

This album contains no booklet.