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I Love You, Honeybear Image
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 239 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release from Josh Tillman as Father John Misty was co-produced with Jonathan Wilson.
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Top Track

Bored in the USA
How many people rise and say My brain's so awfully glad to be here for yet another mindless day Now I've got all morning to obsessively accrue A... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 34
  2. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Feb 6, 2015
    100
    This is a gorgeous album.
  2. Feb 10, 2015
    91
    With a welcoming tenor and a likeably schmaltzy delivery that finds him displaying loads of range and emotions, he’s able to give his subject matter the unforgiving and ultimately warm treatment it deserves.
  3. Feb 10, 2015
    90
    Tillman becomes one of the great diarists of our generation in Honeybear, possessing a keen, merciless intelligence within a sophisticated melodic sensibility.
  4. Feb 2, 2015
    80
    Honeybear is rich with sarcasm, flagrant in some places and barely discernable in others. It is impossible to take seriously, but too damn compelling to be dismissed.
  5. Magnet
    Feb 19, 2015
    80
    Musically, Honeybear is more polished effort than Fear Fun, with more production and horns to fill out the songs and an even bigger experimental streak. [No. 117, p.56]
  6. Feb 9, 2015
    80
    If there's a funnier, stranger and more touchingly bizarre album released this year, it will be a very good year indeed.
  7. Feb 10, 2015
    50
    Father John Misty’s I Love You Honeybear takes a more ramshackle approach to the same style [as Beck], with vocals stretching into the distance, strings drenching fingerpicked acoustics, and saloon pianos aplenty. But with a default mode of arch snarkery, Misty doesn’t have much to say; he gets off a sharp line here and there, but can’t string them together into anything greater.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Feb 10, 2015
    10
    Father John Misty, aka Josh Tillman, manages to top 2012's phenomenal Fear Fun with this incredibly beautiful, passionate, depressing, honest,Father John Misty, aka Josh Tillman, manages to top 2012's phenomenal Fear Fun with this incredibly beautiful, passionate, depressing, honest, and often hilarious account of his misadventures with his wife, Emma. He expands on the Folk sound that he cultivated on Fear Fun by going completely over the top, giving listeners a synth pop jam in "True Affection," or the extravagantly orchestrated title track. There is so much to this album, it gets better with every listen. Expand
  2. Apr 27, 2015
    10
    When I first heard this album I thought it was trash mainly because of the generational gap. This album is actually one of the best albumsWhen I first heard this album I thought it was trash mainly because of the generational gap. This album is actually one of the best albums I've heard in awhile. Unlike modern chart toppers the Hooks, and Chorus aren't catchy but instead the melody and the verses. A highlight on this album is the satirical "Bored in the USA". Expand
  3. Apr 24, 2018
    10
    No other artist can speak directly to my cynicism, narcissism, depression, romanticism, and nihilism like FJM does
  4. Feb 16, 2015
    9
    Extravagant songwriting and instrumentation coupled with Tillman's poignant lyrics and vocal delivery make I Love You, Honeybear one of theExtravagant songwriting and instrumentation coupled with Tillman's poignant lyrics and vocal delivery make I Love You, Honeybear one of the best folk rock albums released in these past few years. For someone very impatient for a new Fleet Foxes record, this album may very well tide me over until that time comes. Expand
  5. Mar 24, 2015
    9
    Except for the occasional pothole, and some language I don't quite understand why it needed to be there, this album is great. Like, reallyExcept for the occasional pothole, and some language I don't quite understand why it needed to be there, this album is great. Like, really good. Father John Misty weaves a gorgeous sound, sharp song writing, and expert musicianship. The happy go lucky atmosphere blended with realism creates beautiful contrast. Did I mention this album also being cohesive, smart, and detailed? Really, it's hard to overrate this work and I've been loving it. Expand
  6. Oct 11, 2021
    8
    Sincerely remarkable. A love story filled with ludite distaste, over grown plantations and applause. It's Fjm best body of work which balancesSincerely remarkable. A love story filled with ludite distaste, over grown plantations and applause. It's Fjm best body of work which balances all his best qualities and his worst traits into the most honest love letter in recent memory. A must hear filled with gems and concluded with a autobiographical retelling of how he met the woman he'd marry
    Favourites: true affection, chateaux lobby #4,holy **** went to the store
    Expand
  7. Mar 7, 2015
    7
    not too dissimilar to John Grant, lyrics, vocals and all yet simultaneously an enjoyable album that moves folk in some aspects to morenot too dissimilar to John Grant, lyrics, vocals and all yet simultaneously an enjoyable album that moves folk in some aspects to more interesting places. Expand

See all 34 User Reviews

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