Father John Misty’s long silence was finally broken this past week. He released “Bored in the USA,” a single off his upcoming album, I Love You, Honeybear. I found it this morning on Spotify, and while I wasn’t really expecting to be blown away by it, the song has stuck with me all day.
The subject matter isn’t really anything new. Disillusionment. Boredom. The insignificance of human existence. Not really groundbreaking for Father John Misty a.k.a. Josh Tillman. “Bored in the USA” is beautifully crafted with sparing piano, an almost cinematic-style strings section, and Tillman’s vocals. I found myself laughing at the way he earnestly sings, “Save me, white Jesus.” But then, just on the edge of absurdity, a laugh track comes in—half mocking Tillman for his menial life and half mocking me for thinking this was funny. This song could be whiny and it definitely borders on being overdone, but I think it’s just too honest to be anything other than captivating.
I Love You, Honeybear comes out February 10.
