Sturgill Simpson Released The New Johnny Blue Skies Album Early On YouTube

This Sturgill Simpson fella is full of surprises. First, he subverted his vow to only release five Sturgill Simpson albums by rebranding himself as Johnny Blue Skies for 2024’s brilliant Passage du Desir. This month’s follow-up Mutiny After Midnight — promoted under the name Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds — was promoted as a physical-only release for mid-March. But now the thing’s out on YouTube nearly two weeks early.

In his letter to fans teasing the new album, Simpson said he and his bandmates aimed to make a dance record, and the first few minutes of Mutiny After Midnight bear that out. The Dark Clouds are cooking here in a way they barely touched on the melancholic roots-rock of Passage du Desir. This one begins with the funky “Make America Fuk Again,” then blasts off into the revved-up rock’n’ roll of “Excited Delirium” and the swinging, midtempo, Seger-esque “Don’t Let Go.” Things get extra funky again on “Stay On That.”

That’s as far as I’ve made it so far, but I’m excited to see where else the journey takes us. Dive into Mutiny After Midnight below.

Mutiny After Midnight is out physically 3/13 via Atlantic Outpost. Pre-order it here.