• Artist: Father John Misty
• Album: I Love You Honeybear (2015)
• Purchased at: Hastings (St. Joseph, MO) for $12

This album topped many best of lists in 2015 but I wasn’t ever sure if it was for me. My favorite local record store’s closing sale provided an opportunity to own it so I took a chance. It turns out I should’ve paid full price the day it came out because it is worth it.

Father John Misty is also known as J. Tillman and Joshua Tillman. He has been in tons of bands, most notably The Fleet Foxes who burst out of the indie rock scene in the late 2000s. His brand of softer indie music and deep, intellectual lyrics has made Father John Misty his most successful project yet. You might need a dictionary to follow along with the lyrics but it is actually worth the ride.

With a very very weird album cover, a drawing where a baby Tillman with full beard is breast feeding, you can tell things aren’t so straight forward here. On songs like “The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt.” you might learn words like “malaprops” and if you already know that one hats off to you, it’s a good one. This song is a good one too. Alongside other great songs like the slow burning “Bored in the USA” and the dramatic rocker “The Ideal Husband” this album will give you a fresh look at indie rock and what is so great about it. It’s smart music for smart people or just people who like good music.

Rating: B