J. Tillman: Year In The Kingdom (2009)

New Wax


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