Sturgill Simpson / Johnny Blue Skies Photo: Semi Song
Established artists releasing albums under an alter ego is something I always treat with suspicion. To my mind it seems to indicate that the artist has hit a creative plateau and feels they need to re-invent themselves completely in order to regain any forward momentum. The idea always makes me think of Country music star Garth Brooks' disastrous shift towards rock music where he donned a wig and called himself Chris Gaines for a bit.
So what to make of Sturgill Simpson's latest album, released under the name Johnnie Blue Skies? Well, for one thing this is something that Simpson had planned a while ago. In interviews he had said he would release five albums under his own name before changing it up. And the name Johnnie Blue Skies has cropped up in the credits and liner notes of his previous work too. But has the change in name caused a dramatic difference in sound?
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It's hard to say if the name change has done anything to alter Simpson's approach to his work, because his output up until now has been so eclectic. Whilst his first album was a more traditional country record, Simpson's music became steadily more progressive and varied.
For example, 2019's Sound & Fury was a synth-laced groove rock record that came with an accompanying anime movie. Simpson then completely shifted course, releasing two records of bluegrass versions of his previous work and a concept album of bluegrass and old-timey country.
With such variation in his work, the multitude of influences on Passage du Desir seems completely in keeping with what you would expect from Sturgill Simpson.
There's a 1970s country-soul feel here that pervades a few tracks on the album complete with string swells and Rhodes piano chords, but it would be wrong to say this is a soul record. Big, bluesy guitar solos are a feature on several tracks and there is a distinct blues-rock feel in places. Simpson has always been a big fan of subverting genre expectations and it's something he's perfected over the years so none of these elements feels out of place.
Instead of a prevailing genre, Passage Du Desir seems to draw from 70's music in general as an influence with many of the sounds and textures resembling music from that decade.
Despite, the cool, vintage feel of the music, there is a lot of sadness and heartbreak on this album. Relationships gone awry, alienation and regret seem to be major themes. Even on the jovial 'Scooter Blues,' Simpson sings of a desire to disown himself, become someone else and escape to a more simple life.
Simpson has often spoken of his struggles with his mental health and these themes have appeared in his work before. Perhaps instead of a creative slump, the name change is another example of Simpson expressing a desire to get away from himself in some way.
