Sound & Fury
Sound & Fury puts distorted guitars and synthesisers in charge of Sturgill Simpson's music. The country voice remains recognisable, but the setting is a loud mixture of hard rock, electronic rhythm and rough-edged boogie. It is a purposeful change with plenty of energy. The question is whether the songs can stay as interesting as the sound around them.
Sing Along makes a strong early argument. Its guitar attack and direct movement turn the record's heavier approach into something immediate, while the vocal sits inside the noise rather than comfortably above it. That rough balance suits the song. Elsewhere, however, the dense production can hide the melodic qualities that would help one track stand apart from another.
Make Art Not Friends gives the keyboards more room. A long, wordless synthesiser introduction builds its own atmosphere before the singing arrives, showing that the record can create tension through repetition as well as force. Remember to Breathe uses a recurring whistle-like figure to give its darker setting another point of focus. These details make the electronic side feel like part of the writing.
The grooves become clearer later on. Best Clockmaker on Mars brings a heavy guitar sound into a funkier shape, while Mercury in Retrograde finds an easier movement through its blues-based rhythm and bright keyboard character. Both songs benefit from allowing a recognisable tune to emerge through the rough finish. Their confidence feels more convincing than noise used mainly to signal a change of direction.
Last Man Standing adds a quick rockabilly turn, keeping a trace of older roots within the louder setting. Fastest Horse in Town takes the opposite route, stretching the closing performance into a much bigger guitar workout. The force is striking, even when the scale begins to matter more than the song itself.
That tension runs through the album. The playing is exciting, and the clashes between guitars and keyboards create a sound with real character. Yet the constant pressure can become tiring, and the attitude sometimes carries more weight than the melody. Sound & Fury succeeds as an energetic, adventurous rock record with some strong individual songs. A little more space for those songs would make the full performance more persuasive.
