Father John Misty going back to basics with a solo tour is the kind of artistic reset that tends to produce something genuinely interesting, and "The X-panded Universe" sounds like exactly the sort of introspective venture you'd expect from Josh Tillman when he strips away the full band machinery. There's something rather brave about stepping back into that solo territory after ten years of collaborative arrangements, and it's precisely the kind of bold creative move our listeners tend to get excited about. Whether he's exploring new sonic territory or just reconnecting with his earlier sound, this West Coast run could be a fascinating marker in his journey.