Sturgill Simpson’s Sound & Fury is a record about leaving the past behind. It is not a country record, at least not the kind he built his name on. It is a hard rock record, full of blues, fuzz, and a willingness to sound like ZZ Top more than Merle Haggard. The 2019 album runs ten tracks and 41 minutes, and it is Simpson’s boldest statement yet about what a country singer can actually play.
Opening With Ronin
The album opens with “Ronin,” a track that sets the terms immediately. It is loose, electric, and built on a riff that feels less like a Nashville strum than a bar band jam. It is not subtle, and it does not need to be.
“Remember to Breathe” follows and leans into the blues side of the equation. It is shorter, tighter, and more direct than the opener, a quick burst of guitar that clears the throat before the record settles into its main stretch.
Sing Along Through A Good Look
“Sing Along” and “A Good Look” form a pair of songs that sit somewhere between the record’s extremes. They are not the center of attention, but they keep the energy moving without demanding too much focus. Both tracks are built on a similar template of driving rhythm and loose, conversational vocals.
“Make Art Not Friends” is where the record starts to find its footing. The title is a mission statement, and the song delivers on it. It is the longest track on the front half of the record, and it earns its length with a build that rewards patience.
The Middle Stretch
“Best Clockmaker on Mars” is the shortest track here, and it is also one of the most direct. It is a tight, punchy number that shows off Simpson’s guitar playing without overstaying its welcome.
“All Said and Done” is the first track that truly demands attention. It is the best song on the record, a slow-burning ballad that finds Simpson at his most vulnerable and precise. It is the song critics singled out for a reason.
Last Man Standing and Mercury in Retrograde
“Last Man Standing” is a short, sharp track that functions as a palate cleanser before the record’s closer. It is not essential, but it does its job.
“Mercury in Retrograde” is the other standout track, and it is the second track critics flagged. It is a heavy, atmospheric piece that stretches the record’s sonic palette further than anything else here. It is the album’s dark heart.
Fastest Horse in Town
The record closes with “Fastest Horse in Town,” a seven-minute closer that lets the band stretch out. It is not the strongest track, but it does give the record a sense of completion.
The Verdict
SOUND & FURY is not a perfect record. Its middle stretch drags in places, and some tracks feel like filler rather than statement. But the highs are high enough that the lows don’t matter as much as they might elsewhere.
| Track | Length | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ronin | 3:48 | Opener |
| Remember to Breathe | 2:56 | Settle-in |
| Sing Along | 2:55 | Bridge |
| A Good Look | 4:02 | Bridge |
| Make Art Not Friends | 5:51 | Build |
| Best Clockmaker on Mars | 3:54 | Short |
| All Said and Done | 3:59 | High point |
| Last Man Standing | 2:10 | Palate cleanser |
| Mercury in Retrograde | 4:32 | Dark heart |
| Fastest Horse in Town | 7:06 | Closer |
- Artist: Sturgill Simpson
- Album: Sound & Fury
- Tracks: 10
- Total running time: 41 minutes
- Metacritic: 79/100
The record’s ambition is its strength. Simpson is not trying to make a great country album. He is trying to make a great rock album, and in moments like “All Said and Done” and “Mercury in Retrograde,” he comes close. The weaker tracks are a cost of that ambition, but they are a small one.
SOUND & FURY is a bold, uneven record that mostly lands. It is a step forward for Simpson, even when the steps stumble.
- Ronin3:48
- Remember to Breathe2:56
- Sing Along2:55
- A Good Look4:02
- Make Art Not Friends5:51
- Best Clockmaker on Mars3:54
- All Said and Done3:59
- Last Man Standing2:10
- Mercury in Retrograde4:32
- Fastest Horse in Town7:06
