FJM, you know, he's a funny guy and all (SAVE ME PRESIDENT JESUS), but the problem is that he knows he's a funny guy and tries to cram his speech patterns into his lyrics and he comes off like a prick. The Night John Tillman... actually makes him seem less likable than the girl in question. I hear so much about the warmth and vulnerability of the record, a portrait of an artist in love attempting to make sense of the subject, but the persona is just a bit too sardonic for me.
And then there are the musical arrangements. My God, has a folk album sounded this stiff since the early 70s? At times the music makes Paul Anka sound edgy. Occasionally he strikes absolute gold, where the fourth wall breaking lyricism and arch arrangements collide to make something great; Bored in the USA is funny on its own but reaches the next gear with the laugh track that's inserted. True Affection takes him out of his wheelhouse and he absolutely nails that beat. Mostly though, I feel as if the music is there because albums need music and status updates on their own don't make good albums.
I know I'm being far too harsh on what is a unique and charismatic record for 2015, it is certainly not without its good qualities, but I've liked it less and less as I've spent time with it and that's not a good thing for such a personal record. Carrie & Lowell has been literally the exact opposite way for me.