Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies- Passage Du Desir
Label: High Top Mountain
Producers: Sturgill Simpson and David R. Ferguson
Sturgill Simpson caused quite a buzz in roots music circles back in 2021 when the country visionary and Americana icon declared that his newly-released concept record, The Ballad of Dood & Juanita was the final release in a pre-determined number of LPs that would comprise the extent of his discography. It was a disappointing announcement given the acclaimed stature that Simpson’s chameleonic body of work had attained over the course of less than a decade. Nevertheless, critics and fans optimistically speculated that this merely meant Simpson was pursuing another means of presenting his music, which seemed logical given that he had acquired a somewhat eccentric and mysterious manner of discussing and rolling out his music in the first place. That speculation is now thankfully validated with the release of Passage Du Desir, technically Simpson’s eighth LP, and his first under the musical alter-ego, Johnny Blue Skies. Alter-egos are of course nothing new in the popular music lexicon, and have been utilized throughout the decades to dramatically varying degrees and success. In the grand scheme of Passage, the Blue Skies monicker ultimately proves to be truly nothing more than a signifier of a new era within Simpson’s catalog. This pivot is nothing on the legendarily definitive scale of Ziggy Stardust, nor is it anything resembling the disastrous lows of Chris Gaines, thankfully. This record is truly just finding Sturgill Simpson continuing to do what Sturgill Simpson does best: crafting fucking fantastic music. His singing and narrative point-of-view both remain utterly soul-stirring and squarely in line with his preceding catalog. Stylistically, it’s heavily grounded in a soulful country-rock hybrid, naturally melding the diverse sonic trappings of his initial trilogy of modern classics. The instrumental acumen showcased throughout is of the highest order; not that we should be surprised. Regardless, it remains a rejuvenating revelation to hear a record in 2024 that is so astutely produced, particularly by way of the stunning guitar work that serves as the album’s anchor. It pairs marvelously with his rich, deep register which continues to grow increasingly resonant with each record, equally lush and guttural all the same. Tracks like “Swamp of Sadness”, “If the Sun Never Rises Again”, “Right Kind of Dream, and especially “Jupiter’s Faerie” immediately rank as gorgeous benchmarks in Simpson’s catalog, and would in that from any artist or era. Meanwhile, moments like “Scooter Blues” and “Mint Tea” strike a glowing balance between his most charming and cleverly romantic tendencies, while “Who I Am” harkens back to the beginning with its stripped, twangy aesthetic and Waylon-worthy vocals. “One For the Road”, with its flawed, drifting spirit and pure, raw devastation makes for a tremendously fitting finale, and is among one of the most aching lyrical moments that Simpson’s ever bestowed us with; which obviously says a lot. At only eight tracks, one might worry that the record follows an at-times excessive recent trend of skimpy song sets, but while this record certainly is superb enough to leave you wanting more, it feels perfectly timed and sequenced as well, in turn making it one of the year’s most flawless and stunningly executed efforts. It’s a gorgeously crafted record all around. Release your music under whatever name you choose, Johnny. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
Track Listing:
- “Swamp of Sadness” (Johnny Blue Skies)
- “If the Sun Never Rises Again” (Blue Skies)
- “Scooter Blues” (Blue Skies)
- “Jupiter’s Faerie” (Blue Skies)
- “Who I Am” (Blue Skies)
- “Right Kind of Dream” (Blue Skies)
- “Mint Tea” (Blue Skies)
- “One of the Road” (Blue Skies)
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