Today, J. Tillman is probably best known as the drummer in Fleet Foxes, which is both a blessing and a curse. God bless Ringo Starr, but the man hasn't made it easy for drummers who play behind talented singer-songwriters to step to the front of the stage. Tillman could be the antidote to that situation, if only because he's been putting out stellar, subdued solo albums since Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold was in short pants.
That said, here's hoping Tillman's tenure in that band will shed a brighter spotlight on his own beautiful brand of gentle, pastoral folk. Tillman's latest album, Year in the Kingdom, is a regal, autumnal affair. The title track perfectly exemplifies what Tillman has to offer: It's a hushed and respectful hymn for a modern age in which doubt and spirituality coexist under uneasy, overwhelming and ultimately humbling terms.
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