True to his enigmatic persona, Simpson has changed both his name and his style once again for his 8th studio album. In it his alter ego, Johnny Blue Skies, creates a unique sound blending outlaw & cosmic country along with southern rock in a manner reminiscent of the Allman Brothers and Gram Parsons. Although it contains a few upbeat tracks, the overall theme is that of sublime loneliness, as exemplified by the haunting cover photo of a darkened entryway into the 'Passage du Desir' in Paris where the album was written.

RIYL: Nathaniel Rateliff, Black Pumas, Allman Brothers
FCC: None

1: Swamp of Sadness - gentle, soulful organ & slide are great backdrop for his captivating vocals (slow, 4:58)***
2: If The Sun Never Rises Again - soft & romantic with bluesy guitar accents (slow, 4:48)**
3: Scooter Blues - fun toe-tapper with a Waylon meets Buffet carefree vibe (med, 3:38)**
4: Jupiter’s Faerie - bittersweet ode to an old friend who died before they could make amends with soaring orchestration (med, 7:25)
5: Who I Am - straight ahead country with lovely mandolin, slide guitar & organ (med, 3:07)*
6: Right Kind of Dream - cosmic, fast bass opening builds with band rockin it at the end (fast, 5:18)**
7: Mint Tea - killer southern rocker in the spirit of early Allman Brothers with divine mandolin (fast, 3:38)****
8: One For The Road - poignant breakup tale, with jazzy instrumental outro starting at 5:00 (med, 8:56)