Sturgill Simpson Finds Blue Skies on “Jupiter’s Faerie” and More Songs of the Week

The post Sturgill Simpson Finds Blue Skies on “Jupiter’s Faerie” and More Songs of the Week appeared first on Consequence .

Consequence’s Songs of the Week column takes a look at great new tunes and analyzes notable releases. Find our new favorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, we bask in the sweet sounds of Sturgill Simpson Johnny Blue Skies.

New and Notable:

Blue Skies Poke Through Melancholy on Sturgill Simpson’s “Jupiter’s Faerie”

Sturgill Simpson is back with a new name — Johnny Blue Skies — and a new set of gorgeously written outlaw country tunes. As explained by Consequence ’s own Mary Siroky, Passage Du Desir is, as a whole, a wonderfully natural extension of Simpson’s idiosyncratic honky tonk world, and its seven-and-a-half-minute centerpiece, “Jupiter’s Faerie,” is one of his grandest statements yet.

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The track embodies the dichotomy central to Passage Du Desir : the interplay between despair and hope. Kicking off with a mournful electric piano and a vocal melody you could almost imagine Paul Simon singing, Simpson keeps the verses soft and contemplative. Winds of ambiance meet sparse instrumentation as he sings of a lost love now passed.

When the chorus kicks in, it’s as if the dark clouds have briefly parted to allow a small glimmer of light to shine through, offering warmth and clarity. With an orchestral backing, guitars rush in as Simpson sings a soaring melody with his whole chest. Then, just as quickly as it came, it once again drifts away and the melancholy returns.

It’s a beautifully constructed odyssey, one that’s as sonically compelling as it is emotionally potent. Even when times are dark, Johnny Blue Skies lives up to his name and offers some light via a comforting tune. — Jonah Krueger

Katy Perry’s “Women’s World” is Real Bad

Momma always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” So I won’t… but Mary will.

Staff Picks: Best Songs of the Week July 6th – July 12th

The Beaches — “Takes One to Know One”

Canadian alt-rockers The Beaches leap headfirst into summer energy on their latest release, “Takes One to Know One.” The track revels in the messiness of romantic relationships instead of fleeing from the more difficult parts of falling in love, working in playful jabs between catchy choruses. Mentions of “lost boys in J-Crew shirts” and making therapists cry lend the track a conversational feel; we might as well be sitting shotgun while a friend vents about their relationship woes. Stacked with harmonies and a strong guitar melody, there’s a sunniness underscoring “Takes One to Know One” that promises plenty of replay value. — Mary Siroky

keshi — “Say”

Ahead of his sophomore album, set for September and titled Requiem , keshi is back with a welcome return to form. It’s been years since keshi dropped new music, and “Say” sees the artist back in his terribly smooth, R&B-adjacent lane. This next chapter is set to build on the sound keshi established through a run of EPs and his debut album, GABRIEL , with a glint of city-pop on the edges of “Say.” We’re a far cry from the Soundcloud days that put him on the map, but he sounds as addictive as ever. — M. Siroky

knitting — “Sleeper”

Montreal group knitting are back with “Sleeper,” the multi-faceted second single off their upcoming debut, Some Kind of Heaven . The track may begin with gentle guitars and a dreamy hue, but knitting quickly bring plenty of contrast, building in momentum towards the fuzzy chorus and a bass-driven, infectious outro. Their songwriting language is delightfully specific, the tossing and turning of the band’s guitar chords mirroring the knotty feelings they capture on “Sleeper.” — Paolo Ragusa

MAVI — “i’m so tired”

“i’m so tired,” the newest preview of MAVI’s upcoming record shadowbox , oozes with urgency. While the beat is spacious and, at times, even quite pretty, MAVI raps like his damn life depends on it. He spits fast and with considerable bite, like he needs to fit all of his thoughts into the track’s modest runtime or disaster might strike. The result is a deeply engaging listen, one that positions MAVI as a true-blue artistic talent. — J. Krueger

Merce Lemon — “Backyard Lover”

Merce Lemon has announced her newest album, Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild , and while the tracklist doesn’t include the excellent 2024 single “Will You Do Me a Kindness,” it does boast “Backyard Lover,” a tune that’s every bit as tender, beautiful, and well-constructed. The song builds with steel guitar, a plotting beat, and Lemon’s effortlessly warm vocals, eventually reaching a climax with an absolutely ripping guitar solo. Consider this dog driven wild. — J. Krueger

Michael Kiwanuka — “Floating Parade”

Michael Kiwanuka returns with the lovely escapism of “Floating Parade,” just his second single since dropping the Mercury Prize-winning KIWANUKA in 2019. But patience is just a part of what the British artist does, and it again pays off with another lovely Danger Mouse and Inflo-produced cut. Light and dreamy as it rides the sturdy bass, the track is all about taking a deep breath and separating yourself from the all-encompassing madness for awhile. So if you’re like everyone else right now, take a deep inhale, slow exhale, and join the “Floating Parade.” — Ben Kaye

Midwife — “Rock N Roll Never Forgets”

Following “Killdozer,” the lead single to Midwife’s upcoming record No Depression in Heaven , “Rock N Roll Never Forgets” finds the dark ambient-pop artist at her most patient. Slow, haunting, and over seven minutes in length, the song hinges on it’s expertly-crafted, ghostly tone, a tone that is perfectly represented by the album’s cover art: a decomposing, black-and-white snapshot of an unassuming guitar. — J. Krueger

The Mystery Lights — “Purgatory”

Garage-psych outfit The Mystery Lights have been kicking around New York City for the better part of a decade, signed onto Daptone’s rock subsidiary Wick Records. Their trippy take on ’60s sounds has earned them a comfortable following, with any who’ve seen their live show (especially a set in their full devil makeup) becoming a quick convert. “Purgatory,” the lead single off their upcoming third LP, jangles and distorts with the sort of dark elation that should bring quite a few more fans into the fold. — B. Kaye

Wishy — “Sick Sweet”

With every stellar single from their upcoming debut album Triple Seven , Wishy are sounding more and more confident. “Sick Sweet,” their latest offering and the album opener, is all head rush and fuzzy power pop. Led by co-vocalist Kevin Krauter, “Sick Sweet” isn’t just a great sample of the kind of sweeping, electrifying rock they do best — it’s a warm, compact gem in and of itself, sweetly addicting and sharply composed. When the band busts this out in their live show, it’ll absolutely pop off. — P. Ragusa

Song of the Week Artwork:

MAVI "i'm so tired" artwork keshi "Say" artwork The Beaches "Takes One to Know One" artwork Wishy Triple Sevens album artwork knitting Some Kind of Heaven album artwork Merce Lemon Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Crazy artwork Sturgill Simpson Passage Du Desir album artwork Midwife No Depression in Heaven album artwork The Mystery Lights "Purgatory" artwork Katy Perry 143 album artwork Michael Kiwanuka "Floating Parade" artwork

Top Songs Playlist:

Sturgill Simpson Finds Blue Skies on “Jupiter’s Faerie” and More Songs of the Week
Jonah Krueger and Consequence Staff