Pure Comedy
by Father John Misty
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Apr 7, 2017
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 280 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 233 out of 280
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 280
  3. Negative: 30 out of 280
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Tom_Bombadil
    Apr 13, 2017
    5
    I counted exactly 3 good songs, and given that the album is around 75 minutes long that simply cannot mean anything good. It's a considerably less diverse and rewarding work that Honeybear and the lyrics, of course, can be pretty cringe-inducing sometimes (I'd avoid paying attention to them in the first place). Tillman is not talented either as a piano player or as a composer and he oftenI counted exactly 3 good songs, and given that the album is around 75 minutes long that simply cannot mean anything good. It's a considerably less diverse and rewarding work that Honeybear and the lyrics, of course, can be pretty cringe-inducing sometimes (I'd avoid paying attention to them in the first place). Tillman is not talented either as a piano player or as a composer and he often relies on repetitive and uninteresting song structures (obvious example: the anemic ultra-long "Leaving LA", in which he sings the same melody a hundred times or so). It isn't very helpful either that every song has this "sophisticated" '70s arena pop/rock production sound that makes it all appear quite corny instrumentally speaking.

    Unlike most haters of this guy will tell you, giving this record a spin won't kill you. If anything it'll just waste your time. He's not the worst thing to have happened to music but just another average white singer/songwriter that for some bizarre reason got excessively hyped. Ignore. And if you see a guy calling this album an "intellectually profound experience" ignore him too.    … Expand
  2. zabboo
    Apr 11, 2017
    6
    This record is way too long and way too preachy, though it does have its clever moments. Overall it's okay, but could stand being shorter and sweeter.
  3. Scraper
    Apr 7, 2017
    4
    Everyone who is heralding this as the best album of the year is probably too young to remember Dan Fogelberg, a man who embodied 70's and 80's camp, with his simple piano licks and suave, lady-wooing tenor. Music like this is usually deeply embraced at first, then seen down the road as a lame phase you went through. It's missing instrumental and lyrical risks. When many of you agree withEveryone who is heralding this as the best album of the year is probably too young to remember Dan Fogelberg, a man who embodied 70's and 80's camp, with his simple piano licks and suave, lady-wooing tenor. Music like this is usually deeply embraced at first, then seen down the road as a lame phase you went through. It's missing instrumental and lyrical risks. When many of you agree with me later in life, I won't hold it against you. I used to listen to Bryan Adams.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best Album of 2017
32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2017
43
#43 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. No Ripcord
    Apr 28, 2017
    40
    One of the most frustrating releases of recent times. Tracks meander insipidly, crushed by the weight of a solipsistic “message” and the real moments of quality only serve as a reminder of what might have been.
    Read full review
  2. The 405
    Apr 18, 2017
    60
    To be sure, his willingness to descend into darkness, both regarding the world and within himself, is a large part of the man's appeal, but here he seems to have misunderstood, or simply ignored, what makes him truly great.
    Read full review
  3. Magnet
    Apr 14, 2017
    70
    Tillman wisely scales back the orchestration and flourishes to their bare minimum in order to put his voice and lyrics at the forefront. [No. 141, p.54]
See all critic reviews »