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Passage du Desir
A graphic of a door with the title of the album above it
Studio album by
Johnny Blue Skies
ReleasedJuly 12, 2024 (2024-07-12)
Studio
Length41:43
LabelHigh Top Mountain
Producer
Sturgill Simpson chronology
The Ballad of Dood and Juanita
(2021) 		Passage du Desir
(2024)

"There's a contrarian in me that always wants to push against any kind of expectation. If something works, there's a thought in my brain, like, 'No, I'm being told to do that again'. I was in pain. I was pushing the world away."

—Sturgill Simpson on moving to Paris, adopting a stage name, and recording Passage du Desir[1]

Passage du Desir (French for "Passage of Desire") is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson, released under the alter ego Johnny Blue Skies. It was released on July 12, 2024, through High Top Mountain as Simpson's eighth total studio album. It has received positive reviews from critics. Simpson has stated that this album represents a new phase in his career and was not preceded by promotional singles,[2] but will be supported with a tour under his proper name with Johnny Blue Skies as a special guest.[3]

Background and recording

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Simpson chose to adopt a stage name for Passage du Desir in order to remain in line with his stance of only releasing five original studio albums under his actual name;[4] this excludes Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, as they were bluegrass renditions of previously released material. The name "Johnny Blue Skies" was given to Simpson by a bartender in Lexington, Kentucky, who would introduce Simpson with the moniker whenever he would begin an open mic set at the bar.[1] Simpson previously included "Johnny Blue Skies" in the packaging notes for A Sailor's Guide to Earth, his third studio album, and gave the name a credit in the accompanying film to Sound & Fury, his fourth studio album.[1] Simpson recorded Passage du Desir at Abbey Road Studios in London and Clement House Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.[1]

Reception

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Editors at AnyDecentMusic? scored this release an 8.0 out of 10, aggregating 8 reviews.[5] According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Passage du Desir received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 89 out of 100 from 12 critic scores.[6]

Writing for Beats Per Minute, John Amen commented, "Simpson's voice is more resonant than ever, his melodic sensibilities on full display. Over eight songs and 41 minutes, he forges sublime and heartfelt work, evoking the epic poles of experience: loneliness and belonging, forlornness and gratitude, faith and doubt".[7] Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan wrote that on this release, "every song brings something unique to the table" and "this one finds him embracing the country, blues, soul, and Southern rock of the late 60s/early 70s, with songs that scratch the same itch as stuff like the Allman Brothers, The Band, and Gram Parsons".[8] At Consequence of Sound, Mary Siroky called this "a beautifully layered LP" that mixes genres and moods as diverse as desire and humor that leaves listeners "with the sense that Simpson is just warming up".[9] Writing for Glide Magazine, Shawn Donohue stated that this release includes all of "Simpson's core", with "the mixing of outlaw-based country with classic Nashville pop and slightly psychedelic flourishes", with particularly strong production.[10]

In the Lexington Herald-Leader, Walter Tunis called this "a very Simpson-sounding work" that sounds like the singer's mid-2010 releases, resulting in "a fine slice of often elegant heart-on-the-sleeve music".[11] Discussing Passage du Desir in No Depression, Jon Young concluded, "Eloquent and unsparing, Passage du Desir is a potent cocktail of tender beauty and profound melancholy. Whatever else Sturgill Simpson has planned for Johnny Blue Skies, the two of them are off to an unforgettable start".[12] The Observer's Neil Spencer scored this release 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "a deeply emotional journey", comparing the sound to A Sailor's Guide to Earth.[13]

Editors at Paste chose this as a Paste Pick, where it was rated a 9.7 out of 10 and critic Matt Mitchell called it "an introduction and a rebirth" where "Simpson remains transient but yearns to be still" and "Simpson does his best to wander through the muck of life's greatest romances and fundamental truths for as long as his feet can muster the steps".[14] Editors at Pitchfork scored this release 8.5 out of 10, declaring it among the Best New Music and critic Stephen M. Deusner called it an "outstanding album [that] expertly balances cosmic and outlaw country" and praised the relatability of the lyrics.[15]Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein scored this work 4 out of 5 stars, calling this "some of [Simpson's] deepest music yet" with lyrics that are "heavy with heartache, burdened by past mistakes, adrift in impossible dreams, and desperate for relief" with "music that surrounds Simpson's voice is rich and dynamic, filled with moments of genuine musical delight that act as a kind of counterweight".[16]

Writing for Slant Magazine, Steve Erickson gave this release 4 out of 5 stars, pointing out the "classic rock sound" that recalls 1970s country and rock, with songs that have various moods, "darker undercurrent[s]", and "sci-fi imagery [that] crashes against the notion of mortality".[17] Jacob Paul Nielsen of Stereogum stated that "shrouded in the new identity of Johnny Blues Skies, Simpson has crafted some of his best songs to date", comparing the use of alter egos to David Bowie and Bob Dylan.[18] Sowing of Sputnikmusic rated Passage du Desir a 4.0 out of 5, stating that "it feels like [Simpson's] most personal and poignant release in eight years".[19] At Uproxx, Steven Hyden emphasized the continuity with previous Simpson work due to having the backing band he had in the 2010s, stating that "in true paradoxical Sturgill Simpson fashion, being someone else has given him permission to be more like himself", resulting in "the most patio-friendly music of Sturgill's music career".[2]

Year-end lists

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Select year-end rankings for Passage du Desir
Publication/critic Accolade Rank Ref.
MOJO 75 Best Albums of 2024 57 [20]
Uncut 80 Best Albums of 2024 17 [21]

Track listing

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All songs written by Johnny Blue Skies.

  1. "Swamp of Sadness" – 4:58
  2. "If the Sun Never Rises Again" – 4:47
  3. "Scooter Blues" – 3:38
  4. "Jupiter's Faerie" – 7:24
  5. "Who I Am" – 3:07
  6. "Right Kind of Dream" – 5:17
  7. "Mint Tea" – 3:37
  8. "One for the Road" – 8:55

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart performance for Passage du Desir
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] 76
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 75
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[24] 48
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[25] 12
UK Country Albums (OCC)[26] 5
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27] 20
US Billboard 200[28] 29
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[29] 9
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[30] 8

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Groundwater, Colin (July 12, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson Walked Away From Music. Johnny Blue Skies Is Just Getting Started". Culture. GQ. ISSN 0016-6979. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hyden, Steven (July 12, 2024). "As Johnny Blue Skies, Sturgill Simpson Sounds Only Like Himself". Indie Mix Tape. Uproxx. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Willman, Chris (June 5, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson Announces New Album, Tour; Says He Will Only Record Under the Name 'Johnny Blue Skies' From Now On". Music > News. Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 810134503. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Duran, Anagricel (June 6, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson returns to music as Johnny Blue Skies with 'Passage du Desir'". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Passage Du Desir by Johnny Blue Skies reviews | AnyDecentMusic". AnyDecentMusic?. n.d. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Passage du Désir by Johnny Blue Skies Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. n.d. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Amen, John (July 18, 2024). "Album Review: Johnny Blue Skies – Passage Du Desir". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 12, 2024). "Album Reviews: Cassandra Jenkins, Sturgill Simpson, Clairo & more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Siroky, Mary (July 12, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson Album Review: Johnny Blue Skies' Passage Du Desir". Reviews > Album Reviews. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Donohue, Shawn (July 12, 2024). "Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) Opens New Era With Peculiar Yet Soaring 'Passage Du Desir'". Album Reviews. Glide Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Tunis, Walter (July 12, 2024). "Album review: Sturgill Simpson may have changed his name, but is the music still good?". Music News & Reviews. Lexington Herald-Leader. ISSN 0745-4260. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Young, Jon (July 12, 2024). "As Johnny Blue Skies, Sturgill Simpson Wrings Every Drop Out of Heartbreak". Reviews. No Depression. ISSN 1088-4971. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Spencer, Neil (July 20, 2024). "Johnny Blue Skies: Passage du Desir review – heartache all the way". Music. The Guardian. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 50230244. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Matt (July 12, 2024). "Johnny Blue Skies: 'Passage du Desir' Album Review". Music > Reviews > Sturgill Simpson. Paste. ISSN 1540-3106. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (July 12, 2024). "Johnny Blue Skies / Sturgill Simpson: Passage du Desir Album Review". Albums. Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Bilstein, Jon (July 12, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson's 'Passage Du Desir' Is a Brilliant Exploration of Metamodern Heartache". Music > Album Reviews. Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  17. ^ Erickson, Steve (July 12, 2024). "As Johnny Blue Skies, Sturgill Simpson Takes a 'Passage du Desir'". Music. Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Neilsen, Jacob Paul (July 12, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson Rebrands As Johnny Blue Skies For 'Passage Du Desir': Album Review". Premature Evaluation. Stereogum. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Sowing (July 13, 2024). "Review: Johnny Blue Skies – Passage Du Desir". Reviews. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". albumoftheyear.org. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Pearis, Bill (November 8, 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Johnny Blue Skies & Sturgill Simpson – Passage du Desir" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  25. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "Sturgill Simpson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  29. ^ "Sturgill Simpson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  30. ^ "Sturgill Simpson Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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