Danno Simpson - The Kill Joy (2025) Hi-Res

Colorado isn’t known for its rock bands, which is something I’d not really thought about until listening to Danno Simpson’s latest offering. We’ve got great music out here, whether it be the moody, beautiful songs of Boulder’s Gregory Alan Isakov, the jamgrass of Nederland’s Yonder Mountain String band, or the straight-up country of Denver’s The Barlow. But, after releasing two EPs and a number of singles in the alt-country vein, Simpson decided to make his first full-length LP a straight-up, ballsy rock record. The Kill Joy (out July 11) relies on the muscle of his touring band and his own (largely twang-free) voice to tell his own, unsentimentalized story.

Although he’s now based in Denver and carries ties to Texas and Georgia, Simpson also identifies with Fort Collins, the college town seventy-some miles north of Colorado’s capital. This shows up most prominently in one of the album’s two lead singles, “Hotel Hillcrest.” Named after a DIY venue important to both Simpson’s music and his young adulthood, the pulsing rocker recalls a night as memorable for a lesson learned – “Now you’re all alone/The last of your drink on your face” – as for its punk rock show. “Down on My Knees” carries a similar grungy club feel with a bit of rockabilly thrown in, as Simpson tries to slip out of less-than-mature tendencies – “When am I gonna grow up, find myself a good girl/Give myself a rest?”

“Days Gone By” is the record’s best example of Simpson tossing aside what ain’t working. Featuring excellent guitar work from Jonah Wisneski, the song is not about the good ol’ days (which might’ve been more suitable to Simpson’s previous, more country efforts), but about speeding forward, past be damned – “Nobody back at home to try to make proud.” And “Leave Me LIke You Found Me,” even with its throwback 80s-ish shimmery guitars, pines for nothing or no one – “I need more than what we have/Just a fuck from time to time.” The 2025 version of Danno Simpson – louder, and looking to make up for lost time – shows up vividly on the bass-heavy kiss-off of an album capper, “When the Stars Fall.” Guitars rip and tear as Simpson asks, “When it all comes crashing down/Will it be name you curse in vain?” If you’re a rock fan in Denver, you’ll more likely be looking for his name on a marquee.

Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “Gold” – this straightforward rocker has Simpson battling his music biz frustration – “I can’t take this anymore/This cloud above my head’s become a storm” – before drowning it with twin guitars from Wisneski and producer Ben Waligoske.

The Kill Joy was produced, mixed and engineered by Ben Waligoske and mastered by Alan Douches. All songs written and arranged by Danno Simpson. Musicians on the album include Simpson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jonah Wisneski (lead guitar), Brennan Mackey (bass guitar, background vocals), Alex Johnson (drums, percussion), Colton Forrest Hardy (keys) and Ben Waligoske (second lead guitar).