Chloë and the Next 20th Century

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Chloë and the Next 20th Century is the fifth studio album by American musician Josh Tillman, who performs as Father John Misty. It was released on April 8, 2022, through Sub Pop and Bella Union. Tillman co-produced the record with longtime collaborator Jonathan Wilson. The writing and recording took place during 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, from August to December.

Musically, the album moves away from Tillman’s folk and indie rock roots toward big band, jazz standards, and traditional pop, while keeping narrative, story-driven lyrics. It’s often described as having a cinematic, Hollywood feel that spans from the 1930s to the 1960s. The closing track, The Next 20th Century, is a seven-minute progressive piece that blends a calm, low-key groove with vivid, surreal imagery and apocalyptic themes.

Sessions began at Wilson’s Fivestar Studios in Topanga, California, where basic tracks were laid down. Strings, brass, and woodwinds were recorded later at United Recordings with a large ensemble. The album was engineered and mixed by Dave Cerminara, with arrangements by Drew Erickson. Critics have compared the sound to Randy Newman’s Sail Away and Harry Nilsson’s A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night.

Lead singles announced ahead of the release included Funny Girl (January 4, 2022), Q4 (February 9), Goodbye Mr. Blue (March 9), and The Next 20th Century (April 4). A deluxe boxed edition followed, featuring a hardcover book, clear red vinyl, a poster, and two bonus 7" records with covers by Lana Del Rey and Jack Cruz. To promote the album, Misty performed two symphony concerts: one in Los Angeles with the LA Philharmonic and another in London with Britten Sinfonia.

Chloë and the Next 20th Century received strong critical acclaim. It holds a high Metacritic score (82/100) and a solid consensus from other outlets, though some critics found the midcentury Broadway style too swooning. In Ireland, RTÉ Radio 1 named it album of the week on April 15, 2022. All tracks on the album were written by Josh Tillman.