2011: Section.80 & Helplessness Blues (while Josh was with Fleet Foxes) 2012: GKMC & Fear Fun 2015: TPaB & ILYHB 2017: Damn. & Pure Comedy 2018: Black Panther Soundtrack & GFC 2022: Mr. Morale & Chloë 2024: GNX & Mahashmashana If only FJM dropped in 2016 (untitled unmastered), that would be every year, not counting anything before 2010.
I will not take this _Screamland_ slander When that song dropped, the first chorus crashing in almost made me fall to my knees. It washes over me the same way an album/song like Sunbather does
It's the most AB, boring structured song on the album, imo. The chorus on the track is strong, but it doesn't change and by the final time it played I was more than ready for it to end.
I feel like this album is a more refined, more poetic version of what Pure Comedy was trying to be. I’ve soured a lot on PC just because the lyrics are so heavy-handed and… Reddit-y. This time around FJM decided to show rather than tell, which is why the Wall of Sound approach on the title track and Screamland works so well. The studio sleaze of She Cleans Up and I Guess Time is the sound of a rock anti-hero. He’s fully embodied the ideals of the entire project. Perfect album imo.
Those are my thoughts as well. Pure Comedy seemed amazing at first but later I started to just think of him as a hipster version of Elton John who thinks his lyrics are more deep and important than they really are. Still love that album but it does drag on a bit. This new album really trims out the fat and is a much more solid album.
@@chillepalmerz also the lyrics actually do have something good to analyze if you happen to want to. It starts out as this kind of noir revenge fantasy about mary of magdalene preventing the crucifixion by shooting up some Romans, and then by the end it's a whole cosmic narrative about revenge, karma, and gender (specifically, the way women can't seem to escape the role of being caretakers, whether they like it or not, even in this revenge narrative he's sketched, and how dependent everyone else is on women remaining in that role. It's a cute little story about cosmic injustice).
Mental Health is genius. Questioning the notion of a “true self” and its value. The “solution” is embracing our own madness to an extent “find the edge and baby go go go!”
Yeah fantano doesn't scratch too deep into the lyric side of this album. Kind of funny since that's FJMs calling card. Really starting to question why I watch these reviews pretty much all the written pieces were more interesting and well thought out, and imo added something to my experience with this album. This review truly doesn't
@ Fetch the Bolt Cutters was my first clue into how little depth his analysis has. “For Her” is apparently about a love triangle and not Fiona finding friendship with a woman who was abused by a shared ex 🙄
Am I the one dude finding this in the top 3 for the year? (Edit: flabbergasted that this dethroned imaginal disk for me but after a few more listens, I think it’s a 10. An instant classic just like that album, and unlike that album it doesn’t have a pointless 50 second interlude interrupting the flow. Holy shit this is peak)
It's funny that you say that because I think they should collaborate and go on tour! Had the thought while listening to Summer's Gone. Reminds me of Fiona's I know from When the Pawn..
He already made up his mind about it before it released because he didn't appreciate chloe. Idk how you can listen to mental health and mahashmashana and not eargasm. 9/10 for me with the worst being screamland.
Being You is going from a place of narcissism to real love and compassion. That is what it takes to love someone: to put yourself into their shoes and experience
it’s probably not my *favorite* but he’s definitely missing the point here. it’s very much a reflection of the unfounded idealism that Josh is making fun of here
It feels like two separate songs merged into one. The chorus feels forced with over the top gloss; even slightly contrived. That aside I love it but I take it for what it is.
Man I had completely different reads on a lot of these songs. Being You feels to me more like Josh trying to remember how to relate to people, and the facade he's putting up to get through a conversation that he can't focus on because he's too in his own head. The parody he refers to is the impression he's doing of himself that he is finding harder and harder to perform. Mental Health to me was about how silly it is to have to cope with existence, purely because of our own complicated designs. Being a citizen is so unnecessarily taxing and absurd, and there's a whole cottage industry to help people cope. But all that industry does is create additionally confusing concepts that contribute further to the absurdity. He's telling his "Magic Child", the innocent, "insane" version of himself, to run far away so that it can be spared from adult life, and regrets that it didn't go far enough and is therefore no longer accessible.
Funnily enough, he credited Viagra Boys for She Cleans Up. He specifically said the song was inspired by Punk Rock Loser. It's all I can hear when I listen to it, now that I know.
i love Screamland for the exact qualities that Anthony doesn’t care for. it’s jarring in a way that’s entirely intentional. Josh is “taking the piss” out of something here the same way he is on Mental Health. he’s called this a “mutilated Hillsong” and it sounds like that because he’s taking the piss out of pure naïveté. toxic positivity, delusional idealism, the idea that you’re never gonna grow old and that transcending time & reality is actually possible; that’s what the song is getting at.
i dont even think it’s that, i think he just overweighs the fundamental aspects of the music in instances where the songwriting substance very much explains why the fundamentals are the way that they are
@@mocapcow2933 yeah. It would be nice if there was someone whose only job was to analyze the music and find out how much meaning can be gleaned from it. Like some sort of... music critic... 🤔
@ i'd get it if it was pitchfork, they have hundreds of writers and those writers have tons of time to focus specifically on one genre, or one album, fantano needs to get through so many albums a week, finding which he wants to review, there will be lots of albums that he likes that he doesn't dig deep in, there will be albums that he likes that he really digs deep in. if you want him to dig deep into every single album he reviews and listens to, he would not put out videos at the rate he is making them and this would most likely not even be a career for him at that point. think of the bigger picture bro, you a FJM fan 😭 you should be able to rationally thinks things out edit: i see comments like yours and nearly every single one of his videos, even ones where he did do lots of research, idk why people expect him to know everything when fans 100% don't know everything, it just came out.
I apologize for my earlier comment. I've just now realized that Anthony Fantano IS a music critic, and it would indeed make sense for him to hone his analytical skills. The fault is mine.
@@mocapcow2933yeah so you just described why this channel sucks. Anthony the person seems hoenslry pretty cool but his channel is basically the trash TV of music criticism. The necessity to put out x amount of reviews a week to make a living dilutes the content. Also, FJM is absolutely one of the artists he 'cares about'. Maybe not to the degree of kendrick I guess but kendrick is one of one for him. Fantano is lazy with this, full stop.
Also, Summer’s Gone is even more bittersweet than you realize because with regard to Climate Change: we may someday pray for summer to end. And frankly the knowledge that every year is going to get hotter and less livable adds to that. Timelessness is a fiction but when we have love and family in our lives: time cannot touch us
Mental Health analysis here is really lackluster. "He doesn't propose any solutions" is definitely not true, since the whole song builds to the point where he places overwhelming value on the listener like a transfer of self-love. More direct than proposing a solution, it provides it. Definitely not just him "taking the piss."
the title track might honestly be the best song Josh has ever dropped. I don't feel its length at all, every part of it is magnificent this album definitely feels like the final cut of Chloë's "rough draft," polishing up the sounds he played with on that album
I fucking knew this dude was gonna say absolutely nothing substantial about the album and give it a 7-8. Everyone should have at this point. Almost wish Fantano would stay away from music like this because its so frustrating to see him clearly not get it and then his opinion is held with such weight regardless of how oblivious it is.
i'm particularly baffled about his Screamland take. like i understand why it doesn't appeal to him musically but the production choices are entirely intentional and totally fitting for the lyrical themes. it's momentarily giving in to meaningless escapism and delusional, youthful naivete. like you'll never get old and you'll somehow transcend the consequences of reality. it's like going out to a nightclub, getting shitfaced with your friends and thinking "yeah, this is sustainable; this is what life's all about." and even if you have a great time, reality's eventually gonna set back in. it's a dead end, but there's beauty and allure in it nonetheless. at least that's my interpretation. how do you read it?
This is the album of the year, lyrically and musically. An absolute masterpiece that is beautifully crafted and magnificently executed with soaring songs that give you chills
I really loved it, it may be my second favorite after Pure Comedy. He's really condensed his sound to the best moments and extended them, only unfortunately lacking on lyricism. If he pivots entirely from here it'd make sense and be awesome but I hope it sounds nothing like Chloe did 😭 also wtff I didn't know about the Josh Tillman discog ppl really don't talk about it, I gotta dig into that
There’s a reason. I’m a big FJM fan, but his Josh Tillman stuff is… dry. It’s pastiche folk sad wizard stuff (think he put it something very close to that description himself). It’s just incredibly samey and the lyrics are just vague, metaphorical nothingnesses. Maybe I need to give it more of a chance but yeah.
Anthony Fantano (A.K.A Melon), I have been watching your videos for quite a few years now, but have never been inclined to comment. However, Jschlatt has released his christmas album, and we NEED a review for this. Thank you.
Those strings in Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose instantly reminded me of Beck for some reason. I love this record so far. It came just in the right moment for me I guess...:)
This album might be his best lyricism it’s like he found the perfect balance of snarky nihilism and relatability. Also nearly every song sticks the landing with the last line
Anthony, I was impressed by the mixing on the chorus of screamland. It does feel white hot to me almost like a modernized Phil Spector wall of sound. I’m curious what you meant by it sounding “fried”. I thought it pretty unapologetically leans into a maximalist and sincere explosive sound which is unique for Misty. It’s also got an electronic bend to it which is something Misty almost never gets right on his albums. Here, however, I think he nailed it. I just would like to hear more about what you disliked about the sound or the whole song in general.
I think that Mahashmashana is sort of a continuation of Pure Comedy. The themes are similar, but he takes the existential dread to a much deeper level, like, a “life itself” sort of thing. It’s less self centered/about him, and more refined. You can tell he’s grown a lot since getting sober.
also, I appreciated the video, but a lot of this album seemed to go over your head, ESPECIALLY claiming that Josh was “taking the piss” with mental health; he actually does propose a solution, as the song is literally about him overcoming his demons and then deciding to cuddle up to them because he accepts himself and sees the value in heightened inner turmoil. That inner turmoil often leads to greatness. It’s quite beautiful.
Totally agree with his take on this album being a transitional moment for fjm. The opening track really sets the tone with that epic 9-minute meditation on endings and rebirth. while it's definitely better than chloe and the next 20th century, you can feel tillman wrestling with where to go next artistically. even when he experiments (like that post-rock explosion on screamland melon wasn't feeling), you still get the sense he's searching for a new direction. the disco grooves on "time makes fools of us all" were a nice surprise. Not what you'd expect from fjm but it works! and those recurring themes about finality and the passage of time hit different when you remember this is the same guy who gave us pure comedy's existential commentary. definitely agree with the decent 7 rating - not his absolute best but still leagues above most singer-songwriter stuff out there. kinda curious where he goes from here though. like you said, when even your "salad days" were filled with that signature fjm cynicism, what comes next? at least the songwriting and performances are still top notch, even if he's figuring out his next artistic evolution. great review anthony
The string arrangements and guitar licks of the song "Josh Tilman and the Accidental Dose" are a direct reference to Serge Gainsbourg's Masterpice Melody Nelson. An album that regularly fuels productions these days, namely Arctic Monkeys' current era. You should review it as a classic, Fantano!
I’ve been a fan of Father John Misty for years, and *Mahashmashana* feels like a culmination of his recent experimentation. The opener “Mahashmashana” sets a surreal, orchestral tone, while the closer “Summer’s Gone” offers bittersweet closure. Together, they encapsulate the album’s introspective yet uplifting essence. It’s an 8/10 for me. You should check out Father John Misty Secret Kendrick Lamar Inspired Track by FTM called "God's Trash," would love to hear your take on it.
I just listened to this album this morning (and then came looking for your review this afternoon). I really liked this album, but I'll confess that my favorite tracks were "She cleans up" and "Screamland" haha
หลายเดือนก่อน +2
you should definitely review Opeth's Last Will and Testament, it came out on the same day as this and the Kendrick album... One day three bangers? Even if you don't like it (I wouldn't be surprised, but I feel like it has a better chance than their previous recent works) it would be some gyatt damn fine rage bait. Please!
I can sort of appreciate and respect his perspective on it... but I strongly disagree with it. Screamland feels like it's supposed to be an outburst of emotion, purposefully "dumbed down" into its rawest, most sincere form. A sincere, vulnerable song on an otherwise mostly ironic and less sincere album. That's not ragging on the album, either. That ironic, sometimes satirical, a bit insincere, suave persona that (purposefully) only half-hides the vulnerable, flawed, scarred man underneath is exactly what draws me to Father John Misty. Screamland just feels like him dropping that veil for a minute, lyrically and instrumentally.
while i do think it is a rly good song, i mean compared to the other phenomenal songs on the album like igtjmfoua, mental health, and the title track, then ya it does kinda seem a lil inferior. Still a great song tho
i think he’s missing the forest for the trees on this one. the distorted, blown-out chorus is very intentionally paired with the lyrical themes of delusional idealism and naïveté. it’s very much meant to depict a false and artificial sense of positivity
Couple of things: She Cleans Up kicks fucking ass. Screamland is beautiful. Being You is the perfect follow up to Screamland and that transition from the one song to the next is my favorite point on the album.
I think some context would help with "Mental Health." It's clear that Father John Misty's up on his postmodern theory, because that's Foucault. The postmoderns reject the entire concept of "identity" as a stable essence; they're more of the mind that who you are is what you do, which means "you" are in a constant of flux. But that's freedom, because you're not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes. The postmoderns are very concerned with capitalism and what it constructs as normative, how we can break through these boxes. Which, "identity" IS sort of a box in that we try to fit ourselves into, these mass-produced labels that can never live up to reality. And it very much has to do with marketing. The postmoderns are very much about difference, change, how the narratives we live by fall apart. They are not fans of like Psychology. Again, because they're not a fan of using simple labels to describe complex reality, and because they value difference. But also, they think Psychology tends to understand pathology as an individual problem, where the postmoderns point more to the fucked up world we live in: it's normal to break down under life under capitalism. But the break down is a kind of freedom, because "mental health" means conforming to the system, which is a kind of prison. Um... Yeah, if it weren't for the reference to the panopticon, I might think this was coming from a more mystic point of view (I think the Buddhist concept of "no self" might be an important touchstone for getting this shit), but postmodern philosophy drew a lot from eastern thought.
Seems like Anthony gets pretty tied up in the lyrics and meanings behind them when he'll give someone like Geordie Greep much more latitude, and on the concept of sound, this is one of Josh's most open to sound experiment records, something Anthony usually embraces. In fact, Screamland isn't much different than what we would have heard on the last couple Low records. This is a great album and my only wish was for 1 or 2 more songs. Time Just Makes Fools is a path he should definitely explore more, especially with his drumming history.
Interesting that the closer was one of your top tracks, it reminded me alot of Chlöe, definitely not my favorite. Talking about the Screamland chorus being a wall of noise as if that isnt the point is kind of weird though. The vibe switch up between desperately hopeful verse and crushingly nihilistic chorus really make that song a highlight in my books. Album is a solid 8 for me.
Screamland is a huge musical accomplishment. What that is I'm not sure but I felt it in Mahashmashana as well. Some finality to both that maybe says how much he wants music to matter but can't make it matter enough.
Purely from a songwriting standpoint, J/FJM is truly doing the best he can do to keep Beatles-esque music alive. Lyrically, not really. But so many songs, particularly “She Cleans Up” sounds like something off of The White Album. That must be why I love him and his music so much, and this album is no different. I may have a least favorite of his, but he really has no misses
this album is definetily a 9 , somehow i kinda knew that he would make "this" album at some point & he really shows that no matter what , the quality will be there
This is a solid 9 for me. It's on par with Pure Comedy. Just fantastic writing, lush production and a tongue in cheek but poignant message. I saw him live at Shaky Knees a while ago, he seemed to absolutely hate how some people were obviously just there for "real love baby". Those listeners completely missed the ironic point of that song: "It's the people who lie (to themselves)"
I kind of wish he’s venture out to do another ambitious concept album that goes somewhat electronic. Or if using instrumentation, amp up the technical song-craft. Idk. This album definitely was more of a return to from, though. Bought it on vinyl. Very much enjoy it more than Chloe, which lyrically didn’t do anything for me.
hot take: I really like screamland, it reminds me of blasting post-rock, coldplay adjacent songs in my shitty earbuds on the bus ride to middle school 🫣 kinda nostalgic in a way? it scratches a brain itch for me. but I understand where people are coming from when they say they don't like it anyway, seeing FJM's philly show in February! can't fucking wait for mahashmashana live
Screamland worst track blasphemy L. The chorus is definitely overblown to a cheesy degree (especially in the contrast to the rest of the song), but once the intentionality of it clicks, you get used to it and may even appreciate it. The rest of the track is lyrically and sonically evocative and may be one of my all-time favorites of FJM’s.
Mental Health is the highlight of the album for me. It's starts off referencing a panopticon; architecture that results in prisoners policing themselves. I interpret the criticism of mental health to be synonymous to "it is not a sign of good mental health to be well-adjusted to a sick society"(paraphrasing). The reference to the licensee I interpret as who gets to decide what is considered mentally healthy? The line about not going far enough I would interpret as being about following or pushing his 'crazy' which isn't crazy at all. It's only considered crazy in reference to a false notion of mental health, and false constructions or labels that are supposed to describe ill health. From a musical standpoint the orchestration and the chord progressions are great. The song feels similar to Harrison's, 'Something' in a loose sense. I'd give the album at least an 8 overall.
Not my favorite Misty album, but it's soooo much stronger than Chloe to me.. I do like that ...Like Clockwork is displayed prominently in the background. Now THAT was an amazing record.
I think you missed the mark on your interpretation of Mental Health which is why Screamland felt like it didn’t fit. MH appeared to me to speak more to how worrying too much about our mental health (in the manner prescribed by industry) stifles humanities chance at living an honest reality etc. Hence the lyrics, “Oh, insanity Babe, it's indispensable For the true endeavor of your soul To find the edge and baby go, go, go”. He’s saying he regrets (to a degree) that he couldn’t get closer to “insanity” as a way of tapping into his own soul and place in the cosmos. There are rumors JT had a baby so as a parent this deeply resonated with me. Parenting overshadowed the part of my psyche that thrived on existential dread and endeavors of my soul. That’s a difficult mindset to maintain without becoming seriously depressed when you’re staring into your baby’s eyes or doing the 10,000 mundane activities parenting requires. Good news is my kids are a bit older now and that mindset is returning. FJM has helped to reignite it. I can’t wait to see the progression of this man’s work throughout his life cycles. He is a true lyrical legend and his music always hits just right. I love your review and thanks for going through all the effort to create a space to share ideas.
Melon, all the reasons you didn’t like Screamland are what made me love it. The explosions of sound are just captivating and it feels like such a great representation of turbulent emotions
FJM can’t be on a Kendrick like schedule during the upcoming administration. Either that or someone needs to get Kendrick mad enough to keep dropping music for both of them
2017: Kendrick gets a 7, FJM gets a 9.
2024: FJM gets a 7, Kendrick gets a 9.
They must have made a deal lmao
kendrick and FJM must have a secret agreement to release their music in the same year
i can't be mad at it, two banger albums once every couple years
Yeah, whenever you wanna know when kendrick drops, just ask FJM when will he drop.
i swear, this always happens! i wonder how FJM would respond to his albums being overshadowed by kendrick lamar!
The Kendrick beef no one is talking about
2011: Section.80 & Helplessness Blues (while Josh was with Fleet Foxes)
2012: GKMC & Fear Fun
2015: TPaB & ILYHB
2017: Damn. & Pure Comedy
2018: Black Panther Soundtrack & GFC
2022: Mr. Morale & Chloë
2024: GNX & Mahashmashana
If only FJM dropped in 2016 (untitled unmastered), that would be every year, not counting anything before 2010.
hit it like mahashmashon
get it hot like papa john
Your mind is incredible
gonna get this tattooed on my arm thanks
this is so stupid and it made me laugh really hard
"papa john" is literally father john it fits so perfectly
Where is this line from
Review and album aside…. Ain’t it funny that Father John Misty and Kendrick Lamar have dropped on the same schedule for the past 12 years?
My two favourite musicians since 2011/2012 noticed on the comments on all fjm fantano reviews people keep mentioning kendrick always wondered why lol
"review and album aside" is such a funny way to preface a comment on this channel of all channels
@Porcuspine360It would be great if they did…
14 years
They are talking about music. Just in the context of music being released...Be offended elsewhere.@ParrotRaving
4:36 Viagra Boys is actually credited on She Cleans Up!!
And he didn't mention this (I don't think?) but Low helped with the production on Screamland!
@@stephenoxf BJ Burton produced it and Alan Sparhawk played guitar, as I heard it on NPR
@@stephenoxf whoa!
I will not take this _Screamland_ slander
When that song dropped, the first chorus crashing in almost made me fall to my knees. It washes over me the same way an album/song like Sunbather does
it's the best song on the record imho
I love the bold choice in production, it does require a good soundsystem/headphones to experience. But I even love it more for that.
Screamland stood out as powerful, spiritual & emotional form the first listen. I can’t believe it’s his least favorite..
It's the most AB, boring structured song on the album, imo. The chorus on the track is strong, but it doesn't change and by the final time it played I was more than ready for it to end.
skill issue.
I feel like this album is a more refined, more poetic version of what Pure Comedy was trying to be. I’ve soured a lot on PC just because the lyrics are so heavy-handed and… Reddit-y. This time around FJM decided to show rather than tell, which is why the Wall of Sound approach on the title track and Screamland works so well. The studio sleaze of She Cleans Up and I Guess Time is the sound of a rock anti-hero. He’s fully embodied the ideals of the entire project. Perfect album imo.
Those are my thoughts as well. Pure Comedy seemed amazing at first but later I started to just think of him as a hipster version of Elton John who thinks his lyrics are more deep and important than they really are. Still love that album but it does drag on a bit. This new album really trims out the fat and is a much more solid album.
Wtf She Cleans Up is a banger imo
I know, it's not even one I have to analyze or get in the right headspace to enjoy. Just crank it up and rock out.
@@chillepalmerz also the lyrics actually do have something good to analyze if you happen to want to. It starts out as this kind of noir revenge fantasy about mary of magdalene preventing the crucifixion by shooting up some Romans, and then by the end it's a whole cosmic narrative about revenge, karma, and gender (specifically, the way women can't seem to escape the role of being caretakers, whether they like it or not, even in this revenge narrative he's sketched, and how dependent everyone else is on women remaining in that role. It's a cute little story about cosmic injustice).
I am so shocked that a lot of people seem to not like it?! It's one of my favorites.
It's great but sounds so much like Viagra Boys "Punk Rock Loser" (also a great track)
Mental Health is genius. Questioning the notion of a “true self” and its value. The “solution” is embracing our own madness to an extent “find the edge and baby go go go!”
Yeah fantano doesn't scratch too deep into the lyric side of this album. Kind of funny since that's FJMs calling card. Really starting to question why I watch these reviews pretty much all the written pieces were more interesting and well thought out, and imo added something to my experience with this album. This review truly doesn't
@ Fetch the Bolt Cutters was my first clue into how little depth his analysis has. “For Her” is apparently about a love triangle and not Fiona finding friendship with a woman who was abused by a shared ex 🙄
My favorite track on the record
The first half of it being literally a disquisition on Foucault is wild!
@ I know!!!
Am I the one dude finding this in the top 3 for the year?
(Edit: flabbergasted that this dethroned imaginal disk for me but after a few more listens, I think it’s a 10. An instant classic just like that album, and unlike that album it doesn’t have a pointless 50 second interlude interrupting the flow. Holy shit this is peak)
Nope there's at least two of us!
Three of us!
@@birberking6999I know like 10 different people who think it's the best of the decade lol (it is)
dozens!
No - it's my #3 after Vampire Weekend and Greep
it was a brat summer, and it’s a father john winty.
this is my Fetch the Bolt Cutters
God I wish more people knew that album
This and Fetch the Bolt Cutters are my Fetch the Bolt Cutters 😔
It's funny that you say that because I think they should collaborate and go on tour! Had the thought while listening to Summer's Gone. Reminds me of Fiona's I know from When the Pawn..
For people who have followed his story as FJM, this album was amazing and emotional.
He already made up his mind about it before it released because he didn't appreciate chloe. Idk how you can listen to mental health and mahashmashana and not eargasm. 9/10 for me with the worst being screamland.
@ I agree. Screamland was a little out of place for me. But I still appreciate it.
If you understood Chloe, you'd give this an 11
Word
Both albums were ass
Common bird W
@@kakkashi21999 braindead take
@@kakkashi21999 to you
Being You is going from a place of narcissism to real love and compassion. That is what it takes to love someone: to put yourself into their shoes and experience
I love the colour scheme in this video
He’s in his wes anderson era
Love this album. It’s my favorite writing of his. Being you hits hard
SCREAMLAND as the worst track is insane, it's def my fave from the record
it’s probably not my *favorite* but he’s definitely missing the point here. it’s very much a reflection of the unfounded idealism that Josh is making fun of here
imagine dragons-core
Same
It feels like two separate songs merged into one. The chorus feels forced with over the top gloss; even slightly contrived. That aside I love it but I take it for what it is.
Me when I inhale my own farts fulltime:
Man I had completely different reads on a lot of these songs.
Being You feels to me more like Josh trying to remember how to relate to people, and the facade he's putting up to get through a conversation that he can't focus on because he's too in his own head. The parody he refers to is the impression he's doing of himself that he is finding harder and harder to perform.
Mental Health to me was about how silly it is to have to cope with existence, purely because of our own complicated designs. Being a citizen is so unnecessarily taxing and absurd, and there's a whole cottage industry to help people cope. But all that industry does is create additionally confusing concepts that contribute further to the absurdity. He's telling his "Magic Child", the innocent, "insane" version of himself, to run far away so that it can be spared from adult life, and regrets that it didn't go far enough and is therefore no longer accessible.
Funnily enough, he credited Viagra Boys for She Cleans Up. He specifically said the song was inspired by Punk Rock Loser.
It's all I can hear when I listen to it, now that I know.
also genesis - i can’t dance
tillman said he still got an extra half for next year so kendrick better be working
i just mahashmashana'd everywhere.
she father on my john til i misty
Good thing she cleans up
she misty on my john til i mahashmashana
That’s what I say when something hot is in my mouth
@@HomemadeSubmarine Head reference? Underrated
We are so mildly back
We are so moderately front
The album is 9/10, nothing mild about it 🤪
November 22 was a great day for music. And this is my personal favorite record of that day
i love Screamland for the exact qualities that Anthony doesn’t care for. it’s jarring in a way that’s entirely intentional. Josh is “taking the piss” out of something here the same way he is on Mental Health. he’s called this a “mutilated Hillsong” and it sounds like that because he’s taking the piss out of pure naïveté. toxic positivity, delusional idealism, the idea that you’re never gonna grow old and that transcending time & reality is actually possible; that’s what the song is getting at.
It’s not like Anthony is that familiar with “Worship Music” to recognize that stuff
i dont even think it’s that, i think he just overweighs the fundamental aspects of the music in instances where the songwriting substance very much explains why the fundamentals are the way that they are
Bro misses the point of every single FJM song and album its insane
hey man, it's music, unless the artist gives a direct explanation, it's what you get out of it, especially something as hard as FJM
@@mocapcow2933 yeah. It would be nice if there was someone whose only job was to analyze the music and find out how much meaning can be gleaned from it. Like some sort of... music critic... 🤔
@ i'd get it if it was pitchfork, they have hundreds of writers and those writers have tons of time to focus specifically on one genre, or one album, fantano needs to get through so many albums a week, finding which he wants to review, there will be lots of albums that he likes that he doesn't dig deep in, there will be albums that he likes that he really digs deep in. if you want him to dig deep into every single album he reviews and listens to, he would not put out videos at the rate he is making them and this would most likely not even be a career for him at that point.
think of the bigger picture bro, you a FJM fan 😭 you should be able to rationally thinks things out
edit: i see comments like yours and nearly every single one of his videos, even ones where he did do lots of research, idk why people expect him to know everything when fans 100% don't know everything, it just came out.
I apologize for my earlier comment. I've just now realized that Anthony Fantano IS a music critic, and it would indeed make sense for him to hone his analytical skills. The fault is mine.
@@mocapcow2933yeah so you just described why this channel sucks. Anthony the person seems hoenslry pretty cool but his channel is basically the trash TV of music criticism. The necessity to put out x amount of reviews a week to make a living dilutes the content.
Also, FJM is absolutely one of the artists he 'cares about'. Maybe not to the degree of kendrick I guess but kendrick is one of one for him. Fantano is lazy with this, full stop.
Also, Summer’s Gone is even more bittersweet than you realize because with regard to Climate Change: we may someday pray for summer to end. And frankly the knowledge that every year is going to get hotter and less livable adds to that. Timelessness is a fiction but when we have love and family in our lives: time cannot touch us
there is no time. dreams are blueprints. families are hallucinations. real is milk, and it is bluer than ever. nolord help us.
@ funny
This is one of my favorite FJM albums, he took out all the stops with this one
We NEED a review of the Jschlatt Christmas album
Melon can't handle what Schmeckledorf did in '99
YESSSS
+1
It’d be surprising but I hope he does
Jschlong
Mental Health analysis here is really lackluster. "He doesn't propose any solutions" is definitely not true, since the whole song builds to the point where he places overwhelming value on the listener like a transfer of self-love. More direct than proposing a solution, it provides it. Definitely not just him "taking the piss."
Agree with you
It’s just weird that this is the same guy who made Pure Comedy😂 your statement is logical but hard to believe
“You two should speak in the presence of a licensee” isn’t a solution?
He also missed the point of Being You, Josh is talking to himself as suggested in Mental Health.
Yeah Anthony's critical readings of themes and stuff can be pretty damn shaky sometimes honestly
the title track might honestly be the best song Josh has ever dropped. I don't feel its length at all, every part of it is magnificent
this album definitely feels like the final cut of Chloë's "rough draft," polishing up the sounds he played with on that album
I fucking knew this dude was gonna say absolutely nothing substantial about the album and give it a 7-8. Everyone should have at this point. Almost wish Fantano would stay away from music like this because its so frustrating to see him clearly not get it and then his opinion is held with such weight regardless of how oblivious it is.
...so you liked the album, then?
What’s the meaning behind the album then according to u? I haven’t heard it yet
@@mickey4125 It is a top 5 album ever made so I'd say so.
i'm particularly baffled about his Screamland take. like i understand why it doesn't appeal to him musically but the production choices are entirely intentional and totally fitting for the lyrical themes. it's momentarily giving in to meaningless escapism and delusional, youthful naivete. like you'll never get old and you'll somehow transcend the consequences of reality. it's like going out to a nightclub, getting shitfaced with your friends and thinking "yeah, this is sustainable; this is what life's all about." and even if you have a great time, reality's eventually gonna set back in. it's a dead end, but there's beauty and allure in it nonetheless. at least that's my interpretation. how do you read it?
@@jamescarlisle4023 wait for my post tommorow 🙏
This is the album of the year, lyrically and musically. An absolute masterpiece that is beautifully crafted and magnificently executed with soaring songs that give you chills
2:50 Strong agree here, the intro song really feels like a ending credit of a gigantic film
I really loved it, it may be my second favorite after Pure Comedy. He's really condensed his sound to the best moments and extended them, only unfortunately lacking on lyricism. If he pivots entirely from here it'd make sense and be awesome but I hope it sounds nothing like Chloe did 😭
also wtff I didn't know about the Josh Tillman discog ppl really don't talk about it, I gotta dig into that
There’s a reason. I’m a big FJM fan, but his Josh Tillman stuff is… dry. It’s pastiche folk sad wizard stuff (think he put it something very close to that description himself).
It’s just incredibly samey and the lyrics are just vague, metaphorical nothingnesses.
Maybe I need to give it more of a chance but yeah.
@kuro2797 😭 good to know thanks
a seven, though positive, feels criminal for this... mr melon.
Anthony Fantano (A.K.A Melon), I have been watching your videos for quite a few years now, but have never been inclined to comment. However, Jschlatt has released his christmas album, and we NEED a review for this. Thank you.
Review When Death Was Mine by Zalinki, it’s been in the making for a while and it has been a staple for my November this year!!
Its soooooooooo good.
Those strings in Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose instantly reminded me of Beck for some reason. I love this record so far. It came just in the right moment for me I guess...:)
This album might be his best lyricism it’s like he found the perfect balance of snarky nihilism and relatability. Also nearly every song sticks the landing with the last line
Anthony, I was impressed by the mixing on the chorus of screamland. It does feel white hot to me almost like a modernized Phil Spector wall of sound. I’m curious what you meant by it sounding “fried”. I thought it pretty unapologetically leans into a maximalist and sincere explosive sound which is unique for Misty. It’s also got an electronic bend to it which is something Misty almost never gets right on his albums. Here, however, I think he nailed it. I just would like to hear more about what you disliked about the sound or the whole song in general.
For me this is his magnum opus
1:47 he played drums for Demon Hunter as well.
the bugs are back. ive never been more joyous !
Nice
Happy for you!
Gizzard and Periphery have very successfully put long openers at the beginning of an album. See P:IV and Omnium Gatherum
add to that, The Dripping Tap is a face blistering near 20 minutes long
I think that Mahashmashana is sort of a continuation of Pure Comedy. The themes are similar, but he takes the existential dread to a much deeper level, like, a “life itself” sort of thing. It’s less self centered/about him, and more refined. You can tell he’s grown a lot since getting sober.
also, I appreciated the video, but a lot of this album seemed to go over your head, ESPECIALLY claiming that Josh was “taking the piss” with mental health; he actually does propose a solution, as the song is literally about him overcoming his demons and then deciding to cuddle up to them because he accepts himself and sees the value in heightened inner turmoil. That inner turmoil often leads to greatness. It’s quite beautiful.
Totally agree with his take on this album being a transitional moment for fjm. The opening track really sets the tone with that epic 9-minute meditation on endings and rebirth. while it's definitely better than chloe and the next 20th century, you can feel tillman wrestling with where to go next artistically. even when he experiments (like that post-rock explosion on screamland melon wasn't feeling), you still get the sense he's searching for a new direction.
the disco grooves on "time makes fools of us all" were a nice surprise. Not what you'd expect from fjm but it works! and those recurring themes about finality and the passage of time hit different when you remember this is the same guy who gave us pure comedy's existential commentary. definitely agree with the decent 7 rating - not his absolute best but still leagues above most singer-songwriter stuff out there. kinda curious where he goes from here though. like you said, when even your "salad days" were filled with that signature fjm cynicism, what comes next? at least the songwriting and performances are still top notch, even if he's figuring out his next artistic evolution.
great review anthony
This feels like it’ll be Carrie & Lowell all over again
So bad album by annoying artist that gets followed up by the ultimate r/sadcringe piece some years down the line?
@@jordancourtney9142 rage bait used to be believable.
@@jordancourtney9142 ..what?
Nah
@@joey7184 not bait, carrie & Lowell sucked eggs and has damaged music as a whole
Viagra Boys are actually credited on "She Cleans Up" since it's obviously borrowed a lot from "Punk Rock Loser"
whys he dressed like it's 2018
The string arrangements and guitar licks of the song "Josh Tilman and the Accidental Dose" are a direct reference to Serge Gainsbourg's Masterpice Melody Nelson. An album that regularly fuels productions these days, namely Arctic Monkeys' current era. You should review it as a classic, Fantano!
I’ve been a fan of Father John Misty for years, and *Mahashmashana* feels like a culmination of his recent experimentation. The opener “Mahashmashana” sets a surreal, orchestral tone, while the closer “Summer’s Gone” offers bittersweet closure. Together, they encapsulate the album’s introspective yet uplifting essence. It’s an 8/10 for me. You should check out Father John Misty Secret Kendrick Lamar Inspired Track by FTM called "God's Trash," would love to hear your take on it.
I just listened to this album this morning (and then came looking for your review this afternoon). I really liked this album, but I'll confess that my favorite tracks were "She cleans up" and "Screamland" haha
you should definitely review Opeth's Last Will and Testament, it came out on the same day as this and the Kendrick album... One day three bangers? Even if you don't like it (I wouldn't be surprised, but I feel like it has a better chance than their previous recent works) it would be some gyatt damn fine rage bait. Please!
Screamland as Least Fav is crazy!!
im as confused and enraged as you are 😭
I can sort of appreciate and respect his perspective on it... but I strongly disagree with it. Screamland feels like it's supposed to be an outburst of emotion, purposefully "dumbed down" into its rawest, most sincere form. A sincere, vulnerable song on an otherwise mostly ironic and less sincere album. That's not ragging on the album, either. That ironic, sometimes satirical, a bit insincere, suave persona that (purposefully) only half-hides the vulnerable, flawed, scarred man underneath is exactly what draws me to Father John Misty. Screamland just feels like him dropping that veil for a minute, lyrically and instrumentally.
I'm so confused as to what he is hearing! cuz that shit sounds so good
while i do think it is a rly good song, i mean compared to the other phenomenal songs on the album like igtjmfoua, mental health, and the title track, then ya it does kinda seem a lil inferior. Still a great song tho
i think he’s missing the forest for the trees on this one. the distorted, blown-out chorus is very intentionally paired with the lyrical themes of delusional idealism and naïveté. it’s very much meant to depict a false and artificial sense of positivity
Couple of things: She Cleans Up kicks fucking ass. Screamland is beautiful. Being You is the perfect follow up to Screamland and that transition from the one song to the next is my favorite point on the album.
I think some context would help with "Mental Health." It's clear that Father John Misty's up on his postmodern theory, because that's Foucault. The postmoderns reject the entire concept of "identity" as a stable essence; they're more of the mind that who you are is what you do, which means "you" are in a constant of flux. But that's freedom, because you're not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes. The postmoderns are very concerned with capitalism and what it constructs as normative, how we can break through these boxes. Which, "identity" IS sort of a box in that we try to fit ourselves into, these mass-produced labels that can never live up to reality. And it very much has to do with marketing. The postmoderns are very much about difference, change, how the narratives we live by fall apart. They are not fans of like Psychology. Again, because they're not a fan of using simple labels to describe complex reality, and because they value difference. But also, they think Psychology tends to understand pathology as an individual problem, where the postmoderns point more to the fucked up world we live in: it's normal to break down under life under capitalism. But the break down is a kind of freedom, because "mental health" means conforming to the system, which is a kind of prison. Um... Yeah, if it weren't for the reference to the panopticon, I might think this was coming from a more mystic point of view (I think the Buddhist concept of "no self" might be an important touchstone for getting this shit), but postmodern philosophy drew a lot from eastern thought.
Seems like Anthony gets pretty tied up in the lyrics and meanings behind them when he'll give someone like Geordie Greep much more latitude, and on the concept of sound, this is one of Josh's most open to sound experiment records, something Anthony usually embraces. In fact, Screamland isn't much different than what we would have heard on the last couple Low records. This is a great album and my only wish was for 1 or 2 more songs. Time Just Makes Fools is a path he should definitely explore more, especially with his drumming history.
She Cleans Up and especially Screamland are fantastic songs, shame on you.
I do have a question if you haven't I think stankonia - OutKast would be a good album to rank
12:55 that's a tough one
I dont wanna think about it!
TV Girl and George Clanton project review when?
Father John Misty is just a chill guy
Where's the new Opeth review?
Waiting for the Manson one too.
Interesting that the closer was one of your top tracks, it reminded me alot of Chlöe, definitely not my favorite.
Talking about the Screamland chorus being a wall of noise as if that isnt the point is kind of weird though. The vibe switch up between desperately hopeful verse and crushingly nihilistic chorus really make that song a highlight in my books.
Album is a solid 8 for me.
How the hell is Screamland your least favourite!?
Screamland is a huge musical accomplishment. What that is I'm not sure but I felt it in Mahashmashana as well. Some finality to both that maybe says how much he wants music to matter but can't make it matter enough.
Purely from a songwriting standpoint, J/FJM is truly doing the best he can do to keep Beatles-esque music alive. Lyrically, not really. But so many songs, particularly “She Cleans Up” sounds like something off of The White Album. That must be why I love him and his music so much, and this album is no different. I may have a least favorite of his, but he really has no misses
this album is definetily a 9 , somehow i kinda knew that he would make "this" album at some point & he really shows that no matter what , the quality will be there
I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All is probably my fav song of the year. I love the funky disco grooves and the crazy sax solo near the end.
mahashmaseven? really? just a seven?
Not having gate keepers is a blessing and a curse.
i’m on the front lines of defending chloë with my whole being
i love farmer juan pepsi so much
Pepsi 🤮🤮
@@BriannaBowwater supremacy
Father John misty: when ur pops sprays a deuce all over the outhouse
Feather Jam Ministries?
This is a solid 9 for me. It's on par with Pure Comedy. Just fantastic writing, lush production and a tongue in cheek but poignant message. I saw him live at Shaky Knees a while ago, he seemed to absolutely hate how some people were obviously just there for "real love baby". Those listeners completely missed the ironic point of that song: "It's the people who lie (to themselves)"
6:27 Love his high brow commentary
I kind of wish he’s venture out to do another ambitious concept album that goes somewhat electronic. Or if using instrumentation, amp up the technical song-craft. Idk.
This album definitely was more of a return to from, though. Bought it on vinyl. Very much enjoy it more than Chloe, which lyrically didn’t do anything for me.
Only a Fool feels timeless, like it’s always existed
FJM is one of those artists where his “Greatish Hits” collection is more than enough for me.
hot take: I really like screamland, it reminds me of blasting post-rock, coldplay adjacent songs in my shitty earbuds on the bus ride to middle school 🫣 kinda nostalgic in a way? it scratches a brain itch for me. but I understand where people are coming from when they say they don't like it
anyway, seeing FJM's philly show in February! can't fucking wait for mahashmashana live
Screamland worst track blasphemy L. The chorus is definitely overblown to a cheesy degree (especially in the contrast to the rest of the song), but once the intentionality of it clicks, you get used to it and may even appreciate it. The rest of the track is lyrically and sonically evocative and may be one of my all-time favorites of FJM’s.
Mental Health is the highlight of the album for me. It's starts off referencing a panopticon; architecture that results in prisoners policing themselves. I interpret the criticism of mental health to be synonymous to "it is not a sign of good mental health to be well-adjusted to a sick society"(paraphrasing). The reference to the licensee I interpret as who gets to decide what is considered mentally healthy? The line about not going far enough I would interpret as being about following or pushing his 'crazy' which isn't crazy at all. It's only considered crazy in reference to a false notion of mental health, and false constructions or labels that are supposed to describe ill health.
From a musical standpoint the orchestration and the chord progressions are great. The song feels similar to Harrison's, 'Something' in a loose sense.
I'd give the album at least an 8 overall.
How in the FUCKKKK is Screamland your least favorite track that shit is one of the most beautiful songs ever
Screamland is probably my favorite on the album lmao
Yup!
Where is the party never ends album review?
hey anthony, could you PLEASEEE revie the ARCANE SEASON 2 SOUNDTRACK?? im begging you
Not my favorite Misty album, but it's soooo much stronger than Chloe to me.. I do like that ...Like Clockwork is displayed prominently in the background. Now THAT was an amazing record.
I think you missed the mark on your interpretation of Mental Health which is why Screamland felt like it didn’t fit. MH appeared to me to speak more to how worrying too much about our mental health (in the manner prescribed by industry) stifles humanities chance at living an honest reality etc. Hence the lyrics, “Oh, insanity
Babe, it's indispensable
For the true endeavor of your soul
To find the edge and baby go, go, go”.
He’s saying he regrets (to a degree) that he couldn’t get closer to “insanity” as a way of tapping into his own soul and place in the cosmos.
There are rumors JT had a baby so as a parent this deeply resonated with me. Parenting overshadowed the part of my psyche that thrived on existential dread and endeavors of my soul. That’s a difficult mindset to maintain without becoming seriously depressed when you’re staring into your baby’s eyes or doing the 10,000 mundane activities parenting requires. Good news is my kids are a bit older now and that mindset is returning. FJM has helped to reignite it.
I can’t wait to see the progression of this man’s work throughout his life cycles. He is a true lyrical legend and his music always hits just right.
I love your review and thanks for going through all the effort to create a space to share ideas.
Melon, all the reasons you didn’t like Screamland are what made me love it. The explosions of sound are just captivating and it feels like such a great representation of turbulent emotions
So that's where Kendrick's 7 went.
Great album review.
This album was way better than pure comedy. Easily his best and a great summation of all of his strengths
This album is no where near the caliber of Pure Comedy
Are we getting a FLO. - AAA review 👀
Mahashmashana into Summer's Gone would have been such a perfect album closing run
I cant believe the Screamland hate its absolutely incredible imo
Best on the album
FJM can’t be on a Kendrick like schedule during the upcoming administration. Either that or someone needs to get Kendrick mad enough to keep dropping music for both of them
So many great lyrics and touching moments! Listened when it came out and the whole experience flowed well
Fantanooooo Being You is about dissociation you misunderstood the lyrics !
was there something inside your beanie? you kept scratching your head
a little Father John Misty bobblehead is controlling him like ratatouille under there
no flannel this time what happened fantano
There are multiple songs that sound like a finale. When the ep came out I thought screamland was going to be the last song to be honest