We've waxed on and on and on and on and on about All Things Father John Misty: the necessity of owning Fear Fun, the brilliance of the performances, and reason after reason why you need to see this band live to truly appreciate the jam that J. Tillman and Co. have got going on. But on the odd chance you haven't been listening (for shame!), here's a bit of an imaginary highlight reel that will hopefully convince you that this Friday's performance at Neumos is absolutely, hands-down, without-a-doubt the place you need to be.

First, Imaginary Victoria's take on our first listen of the leaked album, way back in February:

It's an incredible departure from anything we've ever heard J./osh Tillman involved in thus far, and a few of our first listens, it almost feel like a sampler of everything he's been waiting to play for the world, and everything we've been waiting to hear but didn't know we needed. Fear Fun is some kind of mad genius that we can't quite find the right adjectives for yet, as we're still waist-deep in absorbing both the lyrical content and sonic experimentation of it all: pure, clear vocals laden over with seventies-esque easy-listening key-change sensibilities and a side of jangly guitar twang, fused together with a full-frontal balls-out sound that takes time to digest and process. This album is smart, complicated, soothing yet uncomfortable, brash yet kind — it doesn't sound like anything else we know, which leaves us with the overall feeling that Father John Misty just might be the Brian Wilson of the post indie rock set.

And Chris Estey's full review of Fear Fun, our only full "10" of 2012 thus far:

It involves a lot of reading Beats and bards and bohemian travel writers; writing reams of visions and observations and humiliating admissions; listening to a whole lot of great albums from the later Vietnam era created by PTSD-shaken troubadours; perfervidly working on demos with producer/singwriter comrade Jonathan Wilson, and bringing on board Phil Ek to help mix it. Also: treehouse living with spiders, Canadian Shamans who share a little too much intoxicant, Adderall and weed otherwise, a lot of funerals, fumbling drinks, and novels needing to be written as one lives life like a "You take your chances here, pal" roller coaster.

Then, just a few months back, Imaginary Victoria implored you to see their set at Block Party, penning that FJM was decidedly "a part rock, part thrust, part hip-swinging croon that manages to embody a well-read version of a great high (but maintains enough edge to keep you guessing)." Obviously!

Friends, there really isn't one more thing we can say about it, other than you need to pick up your tickets for Friday's show ASAP. They're flying like hotcakes out of the virtual box office window, and you can put your name on a pair or two right on over here. And PS, be sure to get there in time for Jenny O., who's opening up the show with a sound we've just only begun to put our ears around:

We'll see you in the front row!

{8p doors / $16 adv / Jenny O. opens.}