It was no secret that Sturgill Simpson was a making a massive departure from the traditional country stylings of High Top Mountain or Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. But other than a few teaser vids, the album’s lead single “Sing Along,” and Sturgill’s own “sleazy, steamy rock n roll record” comment, we had no idea what to expect.
And after hearing it, all I can say is that if you are one of those that jumped ship, it’s your loss.
I wanted this thing to literally break your stereo. We tried to make the biggest, loudest record, I think ever made… Usually around 1-3am in the morning, we had smoked all the weed, drank all the wine, and it was all fun… we just had a good time and made a bunch of noise. We were so excited because we had all this old gear and then we got there and realized that half of it didn’t work so it was just ‘well what does it sound like when it doesn’t work?'”
Loud, chaotic, unapologetic, Sturgill comes out guns blazing and middle fingers high in the air… and I love it. I feel like this Mad Max tweet sums it pretty well:
While admittedly not for everybody, this is what it looks like to actually not give a fuck, still have something intelligent and meaningful to say, and actually be good at it (talking to you Zac Brown). I haven’t gotten around to watching the accompanying anime film, but I definitely plan on it. Japanese anime isn’t my thing, but I can always dig anything Sturgill has his hands in.
However, something tells me the live show is where this record is really going to come to life, although you might go deaf after it.
Anyways, here’s a few favorites from Sound & Fury.
“A Good Look”
“Make Art Not Friends”
“Mercury In Retrograde”
Sturgill and company sat down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1 and talked everything Sound & Fury, making the record, the artwork, social media, and how he’s partnering with the Special Forces Foundation on a charity underplay tour.
Click here to listen.
