J. Tillman – Year In The Kingdom
Posted In: J. Tillman, Western Vinyl, Year In The Kingdom
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Western Vinyl says:
We’re thrilled to be releasing J. Tillman’s Year In the Kingdom this fall! The CD release will be followed soon by a vinyl version and a 7″ single. Both CD and vinyl versions include artwork by the amazing Mario Hugo.
In support of these releases, Tillman will tour the US and EU with Pearly Gate Music. Detailed date and venue info is available here. As if this weren’t enough, next month fans can expect to see the premiere of a video for the new album directed by Sean Pecknold.
The J. Tillman Daytrotter session is up!!! Check it out here.
Revue:
The ill-informed may confuse J. Tillman’s solo material as a side project, but alas, Tillman was a solo artist long before he was the drummer for it-band Fleet Foxes. Tillman’s hypnotic, deep lull of a voice is quite different when contrasted with the sweeping pastoral harmonies of his other band. Throwing his name in the hat of uber-prolific singer/songwriters, Tillman returns with his second album in a year entitled Year In The Kingdom. Whereas most of Tillman’s previous material owed much of its charm to a decidedly self-produced sound, Year In The Kingdom sounds as immaculate as anything he’s done. As we all know, too much polish can be a detriment. Sometimes music resonates in its imperfection rather than its lack thereof. In the case of Year In The Kingdom, the improvement in fidelity is less of a hindrance and more of a welcome evolution. Tillman’s voice is crystal clear, and while the instrumentation sounds as crisp as ever, the arrangements on Year In The Kingdom still exhibit the same stripped-down aesthetic Tillman fans have come to love. That’s not to say Tillman hasn’t expanded his soundscape a bit. You’ll notice some unfamiliar sounds on Year In The Kingdom. For example, the gorgeous hammered dulcimer on “Crosswinds” and “Howling Light” adds a dramatic element. It’s ironic that through his involvement with Fleet Foxes, Tillman has only now started to cultivate a well-deserved following. If you take into account all his solo material, Tillman’s no less than a veteran songwriter at this point. If Year In The Kingdom isn’t the best album he’s released, it sure as hell is in the running. — Capt. Obvious
