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Sound & Fury
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Sound & Fury Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 48 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length release for the outlaw country artist was recorded in Michigan with Bobby Emmett, Chuck Bartels, Miles Miller, and John Hill.
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  • Record Label: Elektra
  • Genre(s): Country, Folk, Americana, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Outlaw Country
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. The Guardian
    Sep 26, 2019
    100
    He isn’t the first musician to throw his label a curveball while protesting about the pressures of fame and the grim nature of the music business. That said, it’s hard to think of anyone else who’s done it by making an album as gripping and enjoyable as this.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Sep 27, 2019
    88
    Distortion-saturated guitars, synthesizers squealing like tea kettles and tribal drums give country tradition a swift kick in the back side. This carnage doesn’t belong to a genre, it’s more like a feeling: Side 2 of Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s “Rust Never Sleeps,” ZZ Top demos after three cases of Tequila in a Texas roadhouse, a hurricane.
  3. Mojo
    Sep 26, 2019
    80
    The album's schizoid ruse is neatly summed-up by Make Art Not Friends, which makes its wondrous metamorphosis from lithe dance track to all-American rocker in just under six minutes. [Nov 2019, p.86]
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  4. Pitchfork
    Oct 1, 2019
    72
    SOUND & FURY is miles down the road from any of his previous albums.
  5. No Ripcord
    Oct 3, 2019
    70
    The tightest tunes here tend to be the mid-tempo ones, or the ones with the cleanest production.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Sep 26, 2019
    70
    When Simpson does sing, much of what he has to say is similarly self-referential. He’s angstier than ever on Sound and Fury, plagued by his public platform, preoccupied with the way he’s been misunderstood and boxed in by an unforgiving music industry. Simpson sells such discontent with a fury that makes it seem as though he’s the first rockstar who’s ever had to deal with such problems.
  7. AllMusic
    Sep 26, 2019
    60
    The record gets better when the sci-fi murk lifts and a song comes into focus, which happens more often on the second half, when Simpson relaxes enough to offer up a bit of good ZZ Top funk ("Best Clockmaker on Mars") and a blues shuffle ("Mercury in Retrograde"). But songs aren't the point of Sound & Fury. As the title makes plain, it's all about the sound and fury, noise that grabs hard and eventually softens its grip.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Fastrunner5
    Oct 2, 2019
    10
    This album is uniquely exciting. The best album to come out so far this year.
  2. 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 itI'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.… Expand
  4. 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 forLooked 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.… Expand
  5. 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
  6. 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 shortWe 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
  7. 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.
  8. Ootsjesse16
    Oct 2, 2019
    9
    No matter which genre he decides to pull from, the songwriting remains solid as ever.

See all 19 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed Album of 2019