Father John Misty – Mahashmashana

Father John Misty (FJM) née Josh Tillman’s new album, Mahashmashana, returns to Fear Fun and I Love You, Honeybear territory, but with a fresh new take on his smarmy lounge singer mystique. The FJM I fell in love with in 2012 is back!

2022’s Chloë and the Next 20th Century departed from the typical FJM sound. On that album, he doubled down on his smarmy lounge singer schtick with a big band, bossa nova, and Muzak arrangements (or, as FJM says: “fake jazz”). On Mahashmashana, FJM is back to his epic singer-songwriter self of his first four albums. That persona is one part Springsteen (epic and grandiose), one part Harry Nilsson (sweet yet twisted), one part Randy Newman (humor/cynicism/sarcasm), one part George Harrison (spiritual and seeking), and a pinch of Bon Iver (atmospheric). Although Mahashmashana is sonically in the territory of his first four albums, but this is a fresh take.

Per Wikipedia, the [album’s] title refers to the Sanskrit word Mahāśmaśāna (महाश्मशान), meaning “great cremation ground.“ Tillman chose the word after reading it in Bruce Wagner’s 2006 novel Memorial and feeling inspired by it: “Just visually, it has all these sha-na-nas and ha-ha-has in it. With the record, there’s a lot in there about the self and about identity, and I think just the micro and the macro scale of endings.”

The titular track, “Mahashmashana,” opens the album in a dream sequence. It is an epic nine-plus-minute song with strings, a wailing sax, and Josh fully embracing the FJM persona. As for what the song is about, I have no idea. But there is a pair of lovers, mockery of religion, dancing corpses, etc. If this was the only great song on this album, the album would be a success—but it is not. It is an overture to another FJM masterpiece.

I listened to a recent FJM interview, and he talked about wanting this album to be something dumb after his previous “fake jazz album” (Chloë and the Next 20th Century). “She Cleans Up” is a big dumb rocker. I hear Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up,” Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and Viagra Boys’ “Punk Rock Loser.” The vocals remind me of Spoon and the rock version of T Bone Burnett (Alpha Band and Truth Decay/Trap Door). The first verse is about Mary of Magdalene knowing that her lover Jesus is going to die and she is not having it. The next verse is a contemplation of the 2013 movie Under the Skin. The final verse concerns a wannabe actress’s “me too” moment. Big ideas for a dumb rock song.

“Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose” sonically has a Beck Sea Change/Morning Phase vibe that fits nicely on FJM. Lyrically, The narrator of the song has an existential crisis while on psychedelics (FJM likes to self-medicate with micro-doses of LSD).

“Mental Health” is a gorgeous power ballad. FJM mocks our society’s obsession with mental health and fixation on authenticity when we are crazier and more inauthentic than ever.

FJM referred to the sound of “Screamland” on the Zane Lowe Show as a mutilated Hillsong. Hillsong is worship music that incorporates pop music. The song is a new sound for FJM. It is beautiful and noisy at the same time—like a Bon Iver or Low song. Tillman credits producer BJ Burton with messing with the song to achieve his vision—“mutilated it like I wanted it.” Alan Sparhawk of Low contributes to the beautiful noise.

“Being You” is a beautiful soft rock – almost Yacht Rock song. Lyrically, FJM is wondering about an imaginary movie director.

“I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All” is JJ Cale meets Stevie Wonder in the form of a disco song. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. This song appeared in FJM’s “Greatest Hits” collection, released earlier this year.

“Summer’s Gone” is a pretty ballad about time (time is a recurring theme on the album).

Mahashmashana is produced by BJ Burton. Burton takes a slightly different route than long-time FJM producer Jonathan Wilson (who still has executive producer credit on the album). Tillman says that Wilson’s influence is still there despite Wilson not being directly involved. Burton helps FJM return to form yet not repeat himself.

In interviews, Josh Tillman suggested this could be his last FJM album. He said he envisioned making six FJM albums, and this is the sixth. I hope that is not so, as Mahashmashana is a high watermark in his catalog. Mahashmashana is one of my favorite albums of 2024!