Passage Du Desir Review

Review by Rob Hinkal

Under the guise of Johnny Blue Skies, Kentucky legend, Sturgill Simpson returns with Passage Du Desir. This time around, Simpson, or rather, Blue Skies, has completely left behind his namesake act and has taken on a new persona in an ever-evolving career that continues to challenge current country-western standards.

Never one to conform to genre conventions, Passage Du Desir drifts along at a gentle pace. A far cry from Simpson’s Grammy-nominated 2019 release, SOUND & FURY, and more akin to tracks on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music and A Sailor’s Guide to Earth such as Voices, Oh Sarah, and Breakers Roar. There proves to be plenty of room for experimentation under the Blue Skies pseudonym, as evidenced by the French-tinged accordions of Swamp of Sadness and the retro jam If the Sun Never Rises Again. This may be as close to a Jimmy Buffett album as we may ever get from Sturgill, but who knows what this Mr. Johnny Blue Skies has hidden up his sleeve. 

While it is well-known how talented a guitar player Simpson is, on full display here is his proficiency as a lyricist. His ability to create lyrics and refrains that cut right to the core with few words is as impressive as ever. “Why can’t the dream go on forever/Why can’t the night never end” rings out as the chorus of “If the Sun Never Rises Again. “I cried an Ocean of Tears hoping it would wash the pain away” on Jupiter’s Faeries deftly communicates the sorrow of heartbreak. “How I wish that happiness left scars too” is a hauntingly beautiful sentiment expressed on Right Kind of Dream. The wordplay on Du Desir is arguably the strongest of Simpson’s career and goes to show just what makes Sturgill such a beloved artist in the country community. 

Passage Du Desir is a fantastic departure for Johnny Blue Skies and continues Simpson’s disregard of musical trends in favor of finding his unique sound and style. Infused with a dreamy vibe, inspired lyrics, and impassioned vocals/instrumentations this one fits the bill as one of the best releases of the year so far.