SOUND & FURY is loud, abrasive, and a completely unexpected thrill ride. With crazily enjoyable performances soundtracking a psychedelic dystopian anime, it is certainly Simpson at his finest.
Sturgill Simpson is a singer songwriter nobody can pin down. The country superstar threw a stunning curveball back in 2016 with A Sailor's Guide to Earth, a gorgeous string-backed orchestral ode to his son. The album blew everyone away (including myself), especially the Grammy committee, earning Best Country Album and even an Album of the Year nomination. Even before that he was releasing psychedelic country and folk on his first two albums. Now, after three years, Simpson recorded with a few of his friends in an isolated area in Michigan, inspired by La Roux and Japanese films. Surprisingly, SOUND & FURY is not country, not folk, but is the biggest change of pace for the songwriter. Releasing 10 loud, abrasive, synth rock songs, the album is a soundtrack to a Netflix anime film of the same name, which is a dark dystopian film full of psychedelia and violence throughout.
Like his previous material, the album has a narrative and theme throughout. It covers an assassin looking for vengeance across a vast wasteland full of slavery and poverty with the richest 1% on top. The album itself compliments really well with the film. I wouldn't say the film is necessary to the album itself; you can definitely enjoy this record without knowing the narrative at all. The flow of the record contains radio signal noises in between each song, as if the character is simply changing radio stations each time. In the film, the songs match up with the film too, each song really having its own scene to the overall storyline. The overall production and sound of the record is loud, heavy, and abrasive. The performances are really well done and sound refreshingly raw. "Ronin" is a solid introduction to the record, being a bluesy instrumental with some dark guitar work being the main focus. "Sing Along" is the punchy lead single on the record, being a bop that never stops.
"A Good Look" is the grooviest on the album, with some glam rock guitars and leaping bass lines all over the track. "Best Clockmaker on Mars" is another highlight containing some of the best guitar riffs and some shouty vocals from Simpson. The beginning of the track is very dark and atmospheric before the huge guitars hit. The album seems to almost never leave off the gas with only a couple of slower and not as exciting tracks with "Make Art Not Friends," Mercury in Retrograde" and "All Said and Done." A much needed cool down, the latter sounds like some of the gentle ballads that Danger Mouse has produced in the past. "Last Man Standing" is fast-paced rock that may hark back to his earlier records. "Fastest Horse in Town" is a finale if there ever was one, building up until it explodes with a massive climax of guitars, ending with a hiss of the radio transmission.
Sturgill Simpson is a massive talent as usual and challenges his fans and record label with yet another curve ball. I hope the universe that the SOUND & FURY album and film created can be expanded in the future because it's been such so enjoyable viewing Simpson and the other visionaries' ideas of this story (I did hear that a graphic novel is in the works). It would be really cool if we could see more visual albums reaching streaming services. It's a neat creative tool that can definitely be utilized more by artists. Regardless of the film itself and calling this album a "soundtrack," the album really stands strong by itself without needing a crutch. The overall performances of this album alone will keep me coming back. After many listens, SOUND & FURY is just as exciting as it was first listen. Sturgill Simpson continues to remain as one of popular music's artists that keeps people guessing.
My Rating: 8 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Sing Along," "A Good Look," "Last Man Standing," "Best Clockmaker on Mars," "Ronin"
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