Mahashmashana
The musician born Josh Tillman chose the title for his sixth album in a decidedly Father John Misty kind of way: He found the Sanskrit word in a novel by Bruce Wagner, who shares with the musician a certain impish LA mysticism. Mahāśmaśāna translates to “great cremation ground,” so it’s no surprise to find the singer-songwriter in “what’s it all mean?” mode, trawling tragicomic corners of the American Southwest in search of answers about life, death, and humanity. After trying his hand at big-band jazz on 2022’s *Chloë and the Next 20th Century*, Tillman returns to the big, sweeping ’70s-style pop rock that’s earned him a place among his generation’s most intriguing songwriters. He channels Leonard Cohen’s *Death of a Ladies’ Man* on the sprawling title track, whose swooning orchestration and ambitious lyrics take stock of, well, everything. “She Cleans Up” tells a rollicking tale involving female aliens, high-dollar kimonos, and rabbits with guns, and on dystopian power ballad “Screamland,” he offers an all-American refrain: “Stay young/Get numb/Keep dreaming.”
Josh Tillman is at his spiritual peak: The mood swings are wilder, the logic more tangential, and the songwriting might be the best it’s ever been.
Mahashmashana—taken from the Sanskrit word for "great cremation ground"—may be Josh Tillman's most confident release yet.
After “a few non-elective ego deaths”, Father John Misty looks inward for new record ‘Mahashmashana’, on which sarcasm is in short supply
Befit with steadfast piano ballads, Mahashmashana is interspersed with standout collaborators widening Father John Misty’s artistic palette.
On his sixth record, the alter ego of Josh Tillman finds himself swilling around queasy questions of mortality and self-obsession
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Some things in life are inevitable, taxes, love and of course death - a theme that is explored in stunning fashion across Father John Misty's new album
Father John Misty - Mahashmashana reviewed: Death and dark endings stalk this portmanteau of Josh Tillman’s greatest tricks
Josh Tillman ties together the misery, wit and showmanship of his previous albums on a set laced with strings and swagger
Father John Misty – Mahashmashana album review: could this be one final album of sincere irony from FJM?
For all the flamboyance and giddy irony on display throughout ‘Mahashmashana,’ Father John Misty remains plagued by his darkest thoughts.
Father John Misty has come as close to perfecting his artistry as anyone can. 'Mahashmashana' is a masterpiece of exceptional songwriting and performance.
Mahashmashana by Father John Misty album review by David Saxum for Northern Transmissions. The LP drops on 11/22 via Sub Pop/Bella Union
The singer-songwriter sticks to apocalyptic first principles on his sixth album, couching contemporary chaos in soaring ballads and discofied yacht rock
Father John Misty’s new dawn is full of surprises; U2 have a blast with How to Reassemble an Atomic Bomb; the Wicked soundtrack delights
Father John Misty - Mahashmashana reviewed: Death and dark endings stalk this portmanteau of Josh Tillman’s greatest tricks