'' Pure Comedy '' received acclaim from critics . On Metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications , the album received an average score of 85 , based on 36 reviews , which signifies " universal acclaim " . A review from The Record Store Clerk remarked that " Pure Comedy ( shows ) a mature artist proving that he can continue to make music at the top of his game and likely will for years to come . " In a highly positive review for Chorus.fm , Aaron Mook writes , " '' Pure Comedy '' is a gorgeous album , an album that will remain important in the context of Tillman ’s career , but above all things , it ’s a '' genuine '' album . Sometimes , it ’s hard to empathize with someone who refuses to tell you what you want to hear – especially if what they ’re saying is true . " However , the album did divide some critics . No Ripcord gave the album a 4/10 , saying " One of the most frustrating releases of recent times . Tracks meander insipidly , crushed by the weight of a solipsistic ' message ' and the real moments of quality only serve as a reminder of what might have been . " Spin stated , " He ’s not really in a fun mood , and the music follows . The lushness has diminished , and the work evokes increasing comparisons to ‘ 70s singer-songwriters like Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson , who hid their acidic commentary within sturdy pop structures . " '' Pure Comedy '' received nominations for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package for its deluxe edition at the 60th Grammy Awards , winning the latter in a tie with Magín Díaz ' '' El Orisha de la Rosa ''
60th Grammy Awards
60th Annual Grammy Awards
Pure Comedy