Sturgill Simpson is a guy who hates being told what to do. Back in 2019, he dropped an album that basically functioned as a giant middle finger to the Nashville establishment. It was called Sound and Fury, and honestly, it felt like a fever dream. Imagine a Kentucky outlaw singer getting high on anime and 70s synth-rock, then deciding to spend $1.2 million of his record label's money on a post-apocalyptic movie. That’s what we’re talking about here.
Most people knew Sturgill as the "savior of country music." Then he showed up with a record that sounded more like ZZ Top had a baby with The Cars in a neon-drenched dystopia. It wasn't just a pivot; it was a total demolition of his own brand. Looking back from 2026, it’s clear this wasn’t just a weird phase. It was a calculated move to break the "game" he never wanted to play in the first place.
The Record Label War Nobody Noticed
You’ve gotta understand the headspace Sturgill was in. After winning a Grammy for A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, he was exhausted. He was also stuck in a contract with Elektra Records that he clearly despised. During his 2020 press tour, he was surprisingly blunt. He told reporters that he intentionally made an album that was "difficult to market."
Think about that for a second. Most artists are desperate to sell records. Sturgill? He wanted to be a "un-recouped debt" on the balance sheet so the "bean counters" would finally let him go. He literally described the project as "therapeutic indignation."
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He didn't just hand them a weird record. He made them fund a 41-minute anime anthology film featuring some of Japan’s most legendary creators. We’re talking about guys like Jumpei Mizusaki (the director of Batman Ninja) and Takashi Okazaki (the creator of Afro Samurai).
The Breakdown of the Sound
The music itself is a total sensory assault. It’s "sleazy, steamy rock 'n' roll," as Simpson put it. If you grew up on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, you were probably confused when "Sing Along" started playing.
- Ronin: An instrumental opener that sounds like a slow-burn psychedelic western.
- Remember to Breathe: This one feels like Pink Floyd if they grew up in the South, all paranoia and reverb.
- A Good Look: Basically a disco-funk track co-written by the late, great John Prine. Yeah, you read that right.
- Make Art Not Friends: This is the emotional core. It’s a lonely, synth-heavy anthem about choosing your integrity over popularity.
The album was recorded at the McGuire Motor Inn in Waterford, Michigan. You can hear that "roadhouse" energy in the tracks. It’s dirty. It’s loud. It’s very, very far from the Opry.
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Why the Anime Film is Actually Essential
A lot of people just listen to the album and skip the Netflix film. Big mistake. The movie is an anthology, meaning different directors took different songs and turned them into vignettes. There’s a loose story about a mysterious driver in a hazmat suit and a daughter seeking revenge for her samurai father, but it's more about "vibe" than a linear plot.
One segment features a massive, choreographed dance number with a guy in a gas mask. Another is a brutal, blood-soaked samurai duel. It captures the anger Simpson felt toward the industry perfectly. The violence isn't just for shock value; it’s a metaphor for how the music business chews people up.
Interestingly, Simpson spent years in the Navy stationed in Japan. That’s where the love for the medium came from. He wasn't just hopping on a trend. He was returning to something that shaped him long before he ever picked up a guitar for a living.
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The Long-Term Impact of the "Sound and Fury" Era
So, did his plan work? Sorta. He eventually went back to his roots with the Cuttin' Grass bluegrass albums and The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. Then, in 2024, he "retired" the name Sturgill Simpson and started releasing music as Johnny Blue Skies.
Sound and Fury was the bridge. It was the moment he proved he could succeed in a genre he wasn't "supposed" to be in. It even earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. He’s now the only artist in history to be nominated for both Best Rock Album and Best Country Album.
If you’re just getting into his discography, don't start here. Start with Metamodern. But once you understand the "outlaw" persona, come back to this record. It’s the sound of a man setting his career on fire just to see if he can survive the heat.
How to Experience This Properly
If you want to actually "get" what Sturgill was doing, don't just shuffle it on Spotify. Do this instead:
- Watch the Netflix Film First: It’s called Sturgill Simpson Presents: Sound & Fury. Watch it with a good pair of headphones. The transitions between songs in the movie are seamless and tell a story the audio alone misses.
- Look for the Lyrics: Pay close attention to "Mercury in Retrograde." It’s a savage takedown of the "hypocrites building brands" in the music industry.
- Compare it to his 2024 work: Listen to Passage du Desir (under the Johnny Blue Skies name) right after. You’ll see that the "rock" elements from Sound and Fury never really left; they just got more refined.
- Dig into the Credits: Research Kamikaze Douga and D’Art Shtajio. Seeing the level of talent he recruited for the animation shows this wasn't just some throwaway gimmick.
Basically, stop trying to find the "country" in this record. It’s not there. It’s a rock record through and through, born from burnout and a desire for total freedom.