Sound & Fury
by Sturgill Simpson
  • Record Label: Elektra
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2019
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 48
  3. Negative: 4 out of 48
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  1. alekblonk
    Sep 28, 2019
    9
    This album shows the versatility of Sturgill Simpson. From psychedelic rock and grunge to country and honkytonk, this album is a 41-minute-long adventure.
  2. Dweezy48
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    Looked forward to this release for more than a month. Walked out of work at 2am, drove home with the radio on blast and sat in the garage for 20 minutes listening till the album was finished. Woke up the kids, but it was worth the headache of putting them back down. Sturgill you are the rebel the music industry desperately needs.
  3. seang9899
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    Wow, that Paste review is awful. This record kills. Between Raphael Saadiq and this one, 2019 has suddenly become a year for classic albums
  4. ctcropley
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    This album shreds. It's a big fuzzy wall of sound full of great licks and great lyrics. Another masterpiece from Sturgill.
  5. Petrocelli1960
    Sep 28, 2019
    10
    Sturgill never makes the same album twice. This is one of his best. And this is easily in my top 10 for the year. Country is the new rock.
  6. jsteel510
    Sep 27, 2019
    9
    it's a big departure from his normal sound but once you let it wash over you a few times you realize its another Sturgill project that tiptoes around greatness.
  7. a_sebastian
    Apr 21, 2020
    10
    I'm a fan. i don't care. the album is a kill for me. that's it.
    no need for the 75 characters long blah blah there.
  8. keysor12
    Sep 29, 2019
    10
    This is a great album! As with all of Simpons albums he does not like to be pidgeon holed and this album pushes the envelope even further. If it was a recipe it would read, take 2 parts dirty outlaw country, mix in one part metal, one part classic rock and sprinkle in some synths for good measure.
  9. MusicGuyMack
    Oct 22, 2019
    10
    An "all killer, no filler" record in every sense of the term, Simpson's latest is a deliciously demented Frankenstein's monster amalgamating The Black Keys with "Jekyll + Hyde"-era Zac Brown Band that never lets its foot up off the gas. The Japanese influences conjuring images of lone ronin wandering the land are the icing on the cake, cementing the singer's outlaw image once and for all.An "all killer, no filler" record in every sense of the term, Simpson's latest is a deliciously demented Frankenstein's monster amalgamating The Black Keys with "Jekyll + Hyde"-era Zac Brown Band that never lets its foot up off the gas. The Japanese influences conjuring images of lone ronin wandering the land are the icing on the cake, cementing the singer's outlaw image once and for all.

    Choice Cuts: "Remember to Breathe", "Sing Along", "Best Clockmaker on Mars"    … Expand
  10. Hasdrubal
    Sep 29, 2019
    10
    Another terrific album from an artist that continues to evolve and confound expectations. Album of the year contender.
  11. EbonLegionnaire
    Sep 30, 2019
    10
    I've always loved Sturgill. He doesn't pretend to be what he isn't. He doesn't care what people think he's just doing what he loves, and it shows. True artists aren't concerned with genre or fitting a label they just make music. And that's just what Sturgill's done. This whole album is awesome and the move is BA aswell.
  12. Ootsjesse16
    Oct 2, 2019
    9
    No matter which genre he decides to pull from, the songwriting remains solid as ever.
  13. andruw
    Oct 2, 2019
    10
    Not the first country star to try crossing over to rock, but of course the first to do it with roaring success would be Sturgill.
  14. Fastrunner5
    Oct 2, 2019
    10
    This album is uniquely exciting. The best album to come out so far this year.
  15. KidFromTexas
    Oct 10, 2019
    10
    Sturgill Simpson has been straying away from any and all country music norms of the modern era more than any other artist I can think of. His records are always uniquely him yet still unique from one another. He knocks it out of the park again with Sound and Fury and I am just utterly blown away the way record sounds. If you're a fan of the Black Keys and want to hear something entirelySturgill Simpson has been straying away from any and all country music norms of the modern era more than any other artist I can think of. His records are always uniquely him yet still unique from one another. He knocks it out of the park again with Sound and Fury and I am just utterly blown away the way record sounds. If you're a fan of the Black Keys and want to hear something entirely new, I recommended this record as it is in a master class of it's own. Keep on rocking Sturgill!… Expand
  16. BIZZNASS
    Oct 10, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album rocks and rolls. Period. I have never been excited about music in a long time. This album really speaks to me. Buy it.… Expand
  17. Jade_Sloth
    Oct 16, 2019
    10
    Words simply can't describe the amount of amazing this album is. A new language needs to be invented just to describe the other new language that could properly explain.
  18. YukonDave
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    This album is like a rollercoaster of emotions. It is like being on drugs without ever touching drugs. I have no idea how else I can describe this album. Starting off really with a swag, a manly swag, the intro Ronin is amazing, makes you play an air guitar near the end. Then it goes on to some energetic fast songs with hard synth and guitar sounds, and slowly switching to an emotional andThis album is like a rollercoaster of emotions. It is like being on drugs without ever touching drugs. I have no idea how else I can describe this album. Starting off really with a swag, a manly swag, the intro Ronin is amazing, makes you play an air guitar near the end. Then it goes on to some energetic fast songs with hard synth and guitar sounds, and slowly switching to an emotional and maybe the best song of the album: Make art not friends. Lyrics: 10. Music: 10. Cover: 10. The perfect album does exist.… Expand
  19. bishop535
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    We live in a world where being different goes unrewarded. Sturgill and the band absolutely crush this album. The production is nothing short of PHENOMENAL. What makes it SO over the moon, is everyone considers him a country artist!!!!! Imagine Luke Bryan or Morgan Wallen or Chris Janson doing this album...wait that’s right, you CAN’T. And that’s what makes it so special. An artist tryingWe live in a world where being different goes unrewarded. Sturgill and the band absolutely crush this album. The production is nothing short of PHENOMENAL. What makes it SO over the moon, is everyone considers him a country artist!!!!! Imagine Luke Bryan or Morgan Wallen or Chris Janson doing this album...wait that’s right, you CAN’T. And that’s what makes it so special. An artist trying to do things NOBODY expects and crushing it all at once... it’s borderline unheard of to do a genre switch like this and do it well. Kudos to sturgill!!!!!!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Under The Radar
    Oct 9, 2019
    70
    The album's highlights are marked with push the envelope creativity and a passionate delivery, but the endless industry bashing wears a bit thin. But if you focus on hearing the music instead of listening to all the grousing Sound & Fury is a bracing ride.
    Read full review
  2. No Ripcord
    Oct 3, 2019
    70
    The tightest tunes here tend to be the mid-tempo ones, or the ones with the cleanest production.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    Oct 1, 2019
    72
    SOUND & FURY is miles down the road from any of his previous albums.
    Read full review
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