After three years, Sturgill Simpson has returned with a new album. Sorta. Sturgill mentioned for years that he had a five album plan and when he was done with that, he was done. He’s kept his word as everything he’s released since 2021’s Dood & Juanita has been under the Johnny Blue Skies moniker with the exception of the song “All The Gold in California” which he used his character’s name, Brother Marshall, from the TV series The Righteous Gemstones.

Passage Du Desir is no different. The Johnny Blue Skies name first appeared in the liner notes of Sturgill’s 2016 Grammy Award winning A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. If one were to compare this album to any of his previous output, Sailor’s Guide would be the closest, minus the brass section. Sturgill Simpson fans are going to love this. Anyone looking for a traditional country album is going to be disappointed; though there are a few bright spots in that category. All in all, there’s something here for everyone.