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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
It’s that confusion that makes ‘Fear Fun’ what it is – the more styles and lyrics jostle and reposition, the more we understand the man underneath it all.
84
These twelve tracks are full, they’re self-aware, they’re straight up funny, and it’s these traits that immediately separate Father John Misty’s folk-rock from what Fleet Foxes do.
80
'Fear Fun' is a country-leaning, wise-cracking masterwork.
80
If Fleet Foxes, or indeed, beardy folk/roots music in general, leave you cold, then you probably won't find much to enjoy with Father John Misty.
80
It's clear from the start with the gorgeous opener, "Funtimes in Babylon," that Tillman's is a singular talent
80
Ultimately, it’ll be hard to find a more awe-inspiring album this year than Fear Fun. This is a record that deserves a spot in just about any contemporary music collection.
80
Fear Fun's deft mix of folly and grandeur strikes a nice balance between the over the top hippie shenanigans of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and the vapid, calculated debauchery of Lana Del Ray.
75
Tillman soaks up the sounds, smells, and free-floating strangeness of his environment, and revels in its humanity.
73
Tillman varies things up on Fear Fun, reveals an adventurous palette, and makes what may be his best album to date.
70
A striking, adept piece made accessible by Tillman’s clear-as-a-bell voice, Fear Fun is the ideal companion for a weird headspace.
70
Former Fleet Fox continues strong solo run with symphonic folk odyssey. Every vocal harmony shimmers.
70
These are songs about trying to find onself, realizing how cliché that quest is, and then further realizing that there's no choice but to push through anyway.
60
With a few exceptions it's middle of the road music for middle aged middle managers.
Tillman's debut as Father John Misty is an exciting peek into what the talented songwriter has to offer. Fear Fun isn't all that inventive or as fleshed out as his later works but it is still a pleasant listen.
Best Track: Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Worst Track: Tee Pees 1-12
Best Track: Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Worst Track: Tee Pees 1-12
Maybe one of the greatest folk album's of the decade, Father John Misty begins his new career, polish his new nickname with a mashup of concepts, satirical references and twits concepts of the all decade. Is like a traveling man with all his music stuff across the country, with all the brand new equipment always a brilliant production but with a story to tell
The least famous of the four Father John Misty albums, “Fear Fun” is still well worth listening to. While he carried out this specific vision even more effectively on “I Love You, Honeybear,” this record is a funny, snarky, and highly intelligent introduction to one of the most distinctive (and controversial) singer-songwriters in recent memory. Josh Tillman gets hit with a lot of Randy Newman comparisons, and the parallels are most evident on “Fear Fun.” ... read more
As Tillman's first foray into his Father John Misty, this is an exploration of what kinds of elements could be integrated into a traditional folk record. The different tonal qualities and Tillman's inventive lyricism all conclude in a statement to how important Father John Misty would be to indie rock/folk music over the last decade. At a time I would have considered this his best work, but given how much Tillman has grown as an artist from album to album this statement simply cannot be made ... read more
END OF YEAR LISTS
| #2 | / | Paste |
| #8 | / | Slant |
| #10 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
| #13 | / | Under the Radar |
| #14 | / | Pazz & Jop |
| #14 | / | Spinner |
| #15 | / | FILTER |
| #16 | / | American Songwriter |
| #20 | / | BBC |
| #22 | / | Obscure Sound |
| #27 | / | PopMatters |
| #29 | / | Pretty Much Amazing |
| #59 | / | Uncut |
MISC LISTS
| #10 | / | Paste (Indie Folk) |
| #24 | / | Pitchfork Readers |
Track List
- Funtimes in Babylon
- Nancy From Now On
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
- I'm Writing a Novel
- O I Long to Feel Your Arms Around Me
- Misty's Nightmares 1 & 2
- Only Son of the Ladiesman
- This Is Sally Hatchet
- Well, You Can Do It Without Me
- Now I'm Learning to Love the War
- Tee Pees 1-12
- Everyman Needs a Companion
In Library (55)
Added on: February 2, 2012
