Brief disclaimer: I've been dumb for Lexington singer/songwriter Sturgill Simpson since 2013. He's one of the more creative forces in music today, and his latest album is a shining example of it.
Traditionally Simpson has mostly been a Country singer, but has taken opportunities to show his penchant for rock most notably on the soundtrack for the HBO series Vinyl. Additionally several tracks on his Grammy award wining 2016 album A Sailor's Guide to Earth, drift solidly into rock territory. He made a riveting performance on Saturday Night Live that actually had me on my feet (in my living room).
Last week he released his fourth studio album, titled 'Sound & Fury'. It may be my favorite rock album of the year. It's a cannot-miss earbud vacation I recommend you take immediately.
To make the journey even more amazing, he's released a 40 minute anime feature on Netflix that features the album, set to a post apocalyptic story directed by Jumpei Mizusaki. What the hell? Yes this project reminds me more of a modern day Pink Floyd 'The Wall', than it does anything that's been put out in any genre of music over the past 20 years. Watch it. Listen to it. Tell your grandma about it, because this artist is finding ways to punch through long held stereotypes of what a musician can do.