Rising rock artist Rett Smith delivers a striking statement of intent with his fifth studio album, A Physical Persistence, a raw, analog-driven exploration of vulnerability, rage, and artistic defiance. Written, produced, and recorded entirely in isolation, the record strips rock down to its barest elements while threading Smith’s Southern roots through a post-punk-tinged Americana soundscape.
Lead single “End On Top” sets the tone with thrashing guitars, thunderous drums, and drone-like vocals that collide in a swirl of psychedelic intensity. The track balances chaos with clarity, echoing Syd Barrett’s experimental edge, as Smith’s unvarnished vocals lend emotional weight to his jagged, literary lyricism.
Created without modern digital tools, A Physical Persistence embodies a tactile kind of rebellion. Across its eleven tracks, including standouts “Tell Me There’s a God” and “Seaside Regrets,” Smith confronts isolation, faith, masculinity, and self-reckoning with unflinching honesty. The result is a visceral record where analog imperfection becomes the very vehicle of truth.
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, A Physical Persistence is pure, unfiltered Rett Smith: fearless, cathartic, and fiercely alive.
