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Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor’s Guide To Earth

This is an unpopular opinion but I don’t always get Sturgill Simpson. From a helicopter view, I’m a fan of throwback country vibes as the next guy and I’m way into anyone that can modernize the style and make it accessible to new audiences. Even with all that in mind, his previous album just didn’t grab me. It sounded country and talked about far out topics but it always felt flat to my ears. I know, I know! What’s wrong with me!?

His newest endeavor, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, pushes his style past modernized classic country and integrates a lot of R&B fundamentals; plenty of horns and upbeat undertakings. The Nirvana cover is an “interesting” way to rope in new listeners but, honestly, it sticks out fairly oddly in the flow. I would not be the least bit surprised that, in ten years, we find out some label head or manager really pushed to have that included for marketing efforts.

All of this is to say, my interest in Sturgill Simpson has grown by leaps and bounds with just a single listen of A Sailor’s Guide to Earth and I imagine it will only deepen and solidify with every additional spin.