The title of sixth studio album, 鈥淢ahashmashana,鈥� is a reference to cremation, and the first song proposes 鈥渁 corpse dance.鈥� Religious overtones mix with the undercurrent of a midlife crisis atop his folk chamber pop. And for those despairing recent events, some lyrics seem topical.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always the darkest right before the end,鈥� Misty sings on 鈥淪creamland,鈥� a power ballad full of desperation and overdriven amplifiers. His advice: 鈥淪tay young, get numb, keep dreaming.鈥�
鈥淪creamland鈥� is on 鈥淢ahashmashana,鈥� Misty鈥檚 jaundiced, smart, cynical, droll, druggy, opaque, arch, theatrical take on life 鈥� and death. The album will be released Friday, Nov. 22.
Misty, the stage name for Josh Tillman, describes himself in one song as a windbag. While that鈥檚 a bit harsh, the album will delight those who enjoy listening to music with a dictionary.
鈥淪haken like a pawl fly/obscene as a lick,鈥� Misty sings on the title cut. 鈥淧anoply,鈥� 鈥減anopticon鈥� and 鈥渢he Anthropocene鈥� also receive mentions.
Misty can be verbose or concise: Three song titles are complete sentences. Incongruous but colorful couplets come in waves, seeking answers while unsure of the question.
Misty frames his wordsmithery in cinematic rock noir arrangements as dense as the lyrics. A marvelous string section underpins the lush sound, darting and swooping amid thundering drums and a pounding piano.
Tempos tend toward slow, matching Misty鈥檚 melodrama. But 鈥淪he Cleans Up鈥� is delightfully jagged art rock, with slashing guitars and sax, and 鈥淚 Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All鈥� pairs a sweet groove and sour outlook. Characters come and go on the latter tune, but through nine verses the song repeatedly reaches the same rueful conclusion.
The title cut runs even longer, needing nearly 10 minutes for descriptions, such as courtiers 鈥渞esplendent in donor class panache.鈥� It鈥檚 a love story.
So is 鈥淢ental Health,鈥� a whimsical ode to insanity with woodwinds and backing vocals. 鈥淣o one knows you like yourself,鈥� goes one lyric. 鈥淵ou two should speak in the presence of a licensee.鈥�
On 鈥淢ahashmashana,鈥� Misty wrestles with a reality that is confounding, off-kilter, even crazy, knowing it won鈥檛 end well. Root for him.
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Steven Wine, The Associated Press
