Sturgill Simpson, the alt-country artist now doing business as Johnny Blue Skies, has always been more provocative than many of his contemporaries, speaking out against the country music establishment for its conservative politics and aesthetic stagnation. None of his previous shenanigans, however, have been quite so bold as opening an album with a song titled “Make America Fuk Again.”
“Mutiny After Midnight,” Simpson’s second record as Johnny Blue Skies, is centered around this premise. The way to fix our nation’s myriad of problems, in Simpson’s view, is to return to our most carnal roots.
It’s a kind of trite premise, but it’s a fun concept, and the music that Simpson sets his sometimes less-than-stellar lyrics to is great. I listened to “Mutiny After Midnight” on vinyl, Simpson’s preferred way of experiencing the music, and it felt like the kind of record that would soundtrack the perfect house party.
It’s a groovy melange of funk and country, combining two of America’s most quintessential and political music genres into a series of tunes sure to get a dance floor or concert audience moving.
His single “Situation” is a great example. Simpson’s lyrics are delivered in a winking talk-singing style over an instrumental that feels more funk than country, with a driving drumbeat and prominent bassline. Simpson’s country roots come through, nevertheless, conveyed by his signature southern drawl. It’s the record’s standout track for me, the one that I can envision myself going back to more than any of the others.
The tracks kind of blend together, but in the manner of a well-curated playlist rather than a monotonous slog. They’re sonically consistent, operating in a similar register throughout the album’s entire runtime.
The lyrics aren’t all bad — they remind me of the British rock band IDLES’ 2020 LP “Ultra Mono,” which was both platitudinous and earnest. They may be laughable on paper, but when underscored by irresistible basslines and delivered with heart-on-your-sleeve sincerity, it’s hard not to get swept up in Simpson’s libidinous dance party.
“Mutiny After Midnight” is available to purchase on iTunes or at record shops. It’s also available to stream on YouTube, but not on Spotify or Apple Music. It’s worth the little bit of extra effort to seek out, in my opinion.
