Sturgill Simpson: “I’m never going to make anything other than a country record.”
Well now. The Dallas Observer has even more explaining to do.
In the alternative newsweekly’s irresponsible and incorrect piece entitled “Sturgill Simpson Hasnāt Betrayed Country Music Because He Never Was a Country ArtistāĀ beginning with the laughable assertion, āSturgill Simpson never said he was a country artist,āĀ they decided to weave their misnomers on Sturgill Simpson taken from a slanted, non-country perspective into a ridiculous think piece that had Sturgill Simpson fans freaking out about how he’s abandoned his country roots. But it’s what we’ve come to expect from a rag that also put words into the great Merle Haggard’s mouth, alluding that he didn’t think country music needed to be saved (when he clearly believes quite the contrary), and that once predicted the death of Justin Townes Earle via suicide or overdose. “I have a mother,” was Justin Townes Earle’s response (Justin’s still alive BTW).
Now Sturgill has responded to the concerns and accusations that he’s abandoned country in a short interview with Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone.
“Some people will say, and have said, that I’m trying to run from country, but I’m never going to make anything other than a country record. As soon as I open my mouth, it’s going to be a country song. . . but it doesn’t make the think pieces any less amusing,” says Simpson. “I thought it was hilarious when ‘Brace for Impact’ was released and people said I had abandoned country even though the song is dripping with pedal steel. If anything, that tells me I’m making progress.”
The gall of the Dallas Observer piece wasn’t just that they said Simpson’s new record wouldn’t be country, but said that his previous albums weren’t either. That led to Saving Country Music posting a screed in response to the Dallas Observer, and this important warning:
As the proprietor of a website called Saving Country Music, and someone who has followed Sturgill Simpson longer than most, and reported on his career more than anyone, I personally want Sturgill Simpson to make whatever music he feels in his heart, whatever the genre. Sturgill made his ultra country debut ‘High Top Mountain’ for his grandfather, and he made ‘A Sailorās Guide To Earth’ for his son. And so how can you fault the man for where he has chosen to take his music? If you are a fan of Sturgill Simpson, you should be more than willing to follow him on his journey, and trust him on where heās leading you, at least until youāve given him ample leeway, and then you can make an informed, conscious decision to turn back if you choose. We still havenāt even heard his new album yet, so Iām not even sure why weāre having these discussions. Itās all so presumptive.
For the love of all things holy people, let’s wait for this stinking record to come out before we make up or minds of how good, or how country it is. Is “Brace For Impact” a country song? I think that’s open for interpretation. Sturgill thinks it is, but just having steel guitar on a track doesn’t immediately make it country, just like not having steel guitar or traditional country instrumentation doesn’t mean something isn’t country. And just because something isn’t country doesn’t mean it’s bad, just like if something is country doesn’t always mean it’s good. Sturgill also said to GQ recently, “I just donāt see myself as a songwriter or a country singer or any of those things anymore,āĀ so there’s been a few mixed message here coming from the man himself.
But if you judge this Sturgill Simpson record before you listen to it, then you’re putting an unnecessary limitation on your musical experience. And if you’ve already heard the record and you’re not part of the media or Atlantic Records (which apparently is the case for some), well then that means you’re a file-sharing asshole and your opinion is unwanted at this point.
Some wanted to make Sturgill Simpson a country music savoir, and that was unfair to him. Now others want to use him to assert their ideology that genres don’t matter and that his music isn’t country or never was never country, and that’s unfair too. And all this might be even more difficult to navigate soon since it looks like Sturgill’s cover of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” could be the next single from the record. But even that won’t give us a definitive answer to what flavor A Sailor’s Guide to Earth will be. It’s up to all of us to keep an open mind. That’s much of the message embodied in Simpson’s music. And even more so, Simpson has earned that respect and latitude.
stinks
March 21, 2016 @ 1:06 pm
Can’t wait! Any chance we’ll see him on tv like the awful acm’s or cma’s now that he’s with Atlantic?
Edit: obv other than late night talk shows
Trigger
March 21, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
If we did see Sturgill on a mainstream country music awards show, it would have to be next year’s CMA Awards in November. The ACM’s are in a couple of weeks, and Sturgill won’t even have his new album out by then. I’d be kind of surprised to see him there anyway, but who knows.
Acca Dacca
March 21, 2016 @ 1:11 pm
The reaction from all of those hipsters and elitists trying to posit him as their spokesman should be interesting. “He’s just saying this so people don’t get pissed off.”
It amazes me that country music has such a destitute reputation in some circles that even the good things about it warrant no merit nor recognition. Rock fans have tried to claim the likes of Johnny Cash and Steve Earle as their own (among others) for years, if only to disassociate themselves from the icky music that’s thought of as only by and for ignorant rural conservatives. “I hate country but I like Johnny Cash” has even become something of a rallying cry for those music fans that dislike our music but want to seem cultured (instead of just ignorant of it). They’d rather portray themselves as having experience and deciding the music wasn’t good enough for them instead of actually acknowledging that they don’t know jack shit about country music. That would undermine their self-aggrandized sense of superiority, after all. Some of them might even claim they don’t NEED to experience it because they already “know what it’s all about” thanks to Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. Then, as you say, others try to pretend that genres don’t matter. Perhaps because indie isn’t a genre, but merely a label; those uppity music fans that subscribe to it don’t have any conception of what makes genres great because they’re too concerned with whether the artist is actually making a buck or not.
I don’t care if Sturgill’s comments are a bit inconsistent, or even if A Sailor’s Guide to Earth ends up being country from here on out. This needed to be said, and it couldn’t have come from a better source.
Stringbuzz
March 21, 2016 @ 1:14 pm
Sturgill, how would you describe your new record?
Simpson: Iāā¢m not the guy for that. Itāā¢s where my heart was at the time, I guess. Some people might love it, some might not. I feel the same way about the new one as I felt about the last one before it came out. Iāā¢m nervous, but I made the record I wanted to make and the record I needed to make, I guess. Iāā¢m not even sure itāā¢s a country record, to be honest with you.
From the Garden and Gun interview.
Acca Dacca
March 21, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
I think Sturgill’s become insecure about how to properly address this topic. He’s become so prominent he’ll pretty much get flamed no matter what he calls it or why. I should know, I picked up my torch and pitchfork upon the album’s announcement and first single. It might still present an issue in the future, but I’ve at least resolved to wait and listen first before passing anymore judgement.
Trigger
March 21, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
Sturgill has said some things that can be interpreted in different ways, but that doesn’t mean he’s lying or flip flopping or anything like that. I think it’s a complicated matter. I think his new album is likely to have some country elements to it, and some non country elements to it. So you can’t just say it is country, or it isn’t country. But where there should be universal agreement is that he was a country artist in the past, and there remains ties to country music even in the latest two tracks we’ve heard from him.
marc
March 21, 2016 @ 1:48 pm
For me personally I have liked most of what Sturgill has done and I think because I am a fan of his voice. His voice draws into a song and makes you feel what he is saying. As a fan I am excited about the new album wherever it may lead. There is the saying that there is 2 types music, good and bad and I guess that is up to each individual to decide.
SR
March 21, 2016 @ 2:37 pm
There’s two types of music: the blues and zippedeedoda.- TVZ
BwareDWare94
March 21, 2016 @ 8:13 pm
See, I love his voice, too, but it’s getting to the point where there are songs where I can’t even understand him. It’s one thick drawl, that’s for damn sure. What makes it unique is that it’s that thick but it sounds genuine, nonetheless. Sturgill is exactly what he always needed to be to gain more attention–a unique vocalist.
marc
March 21, 2016 @ 8:33 pm
Bware- I hear what your saying. Both Raul Malo and Sturgill do a cover of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” and I always said Raul makes me want to listen the song but Sturgill makes me feel the song. Sturgill’s voice reminds of Keith Whitley and how he would draw out his words when he sang. The word you used is “genuine” and can’t disagree with that.
GJ
March 21, 2016 @ 1:53 pm
Really well written piece
ElectricOutcast
March 21, 2016 @ 2:25 pm
“For the love of all things holy people, letāā¢s wait for this stinking record to come out before we make up or minds of how good, or how country it is.”
THANK YOU!!!
Andrew
March 21, 2016 @ 2:31 pm
Haha, I think Trigger has pretty much reached the end of his patience for this topic.
Andrew
March 21, 2016 @ 2:29 pm
Great article Trigger! I’m getting tired of all the premature talk surrounding this album too(of course, I participated a little bit, but I tried to make it clear that I wouldn’t judge the album until it came out). Can’t wait for April 15th!
Jim Bob
March 21, 2016 @ 2:53 pm
Without having heard the damned thing yet, kind of reminds me when Archer did that Vice season. Creator got bored, blew the shit up, and did something totally different. And it was still great. Then he went back to the old way the following season. Absolutely nothing wrong with that
Ben
March 21, 2016 @ 7:21 pm
What was funny about that, is that “Cherlene” had way better music than anything on the radio… š
“Wooooo, Outlaw Country!”
Hunter
March 21, 2016 @ 4:09 pm
Off topic Trigger but I’m really like Craig Campbell’s new single “outskirts of heaven”. Another step for mainstream in the right direction. Would really like to hear your thoughts on that. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FkXETsK1B2A
Jake W
March 21, 2016 @ 4:23 pm
Sturgill “MF’N” Simpson…..,……..
Get used to the premature mouth ejaculation from useless critics, hipsters, gas station attendants , and crane operators. They have huge egos, judge for yourself. Judge a lot. Just not prematurely. If you don’t like the single, your probably one of those things mentioned above .
Dallas Micolichek
March 21, 2016 @ 4:48 pm
Gas station attendants have huge egos?
Jackie Treehorn
March 21, 2016 @ 8:06 pm
Gas station attendants still exist??
Trigger
March 21, 2016 @ 8:21 pm
It’s illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon and New Jersey.
Jackie Treehorn
March 21, 2016 @ 8:30 pm
Mm. No shit. Learn something new everyday.
Jackie Treehorn
March 21, 2016 @ 8:20 pm
Crane operators? Highly skilled operators with big responsibility who have to know their shit. Don’t lump them in with dick headed critics and lumberjack wannabe pretentious douchebags who give beards a bad rap. Jeez. So now anyone who simply didn’t think the single was their cup of tea is automatically and asshole? Bold, inaccurate, blanket statement if you ask me.
JohnWayneTwitty
March 21, 2016 @ 7:08 pm
Sturgill covered Nirvana?
I have to hear this
Jackie Treehorn
March 21, 2016 @ 8:13 pm
Again, I’ll choose to reserve my opinions concerning this album until I actually hear it in its entirety. I suggest others do the same. The TWO songs I’ve actually heard, well they don’t exactly blow my hair back, but I ain’t gonna say the whole album is country blasphemy till I hear it.
Frank K- Harrisburg
March 22, 2016 @ 12:09 am
When the Fu$k did we get ice cream???
Craig
March 22, 2016 @ 5:27 am
I have a real problem with the statement ‘as soon as I open my mouth, it’s going to be a country song’. I get the sentiment, and I don’t doubt that he means what he says, but it’s a dangerous misstatement. Country radio has been operating for a decade on the assumption that if you sing with any kind of an accent (doesn’t even have to be regionally Southern – Redneck Comedy Tour appropriated rural is just fine) and you sing about some kind of traditionally country subject matter, it’s country, no matter what kind of garbage (or high quality) non-country you’re singing. Country music as a genre has nothing to do with what comes out of your mouth and everything to do with the structure, instrumentation, and lyrics of the song. From a genre perspective, ‘country music’ is all song, song, song. The singer him or herself has nothing to do with it.
Eric
March 23, 2016 @ 3:56 am
I would argue that vocals (specifically, the twangy vibrato) are central to country music as a genre. This is why we celebrate great singers from George Jones to Patty Loveless, even if they did not compose the bulk of their songs.
Frijoles Negros
March 23, 2016 @ 2:05 pm
He might have been using “mouth” metonymically, meaning: given his influences, desires, history, manner of working, etc…whatever creative product he puts forth will inevitably fall on the country side of things.
Sure, you could argue with that too. But I think it can be a compelling idea.
Stringbuzz
March 22, 2016 @ 9:29 am
I don’t care what he does, as long as it is good.
I could care less if it is death metal as long as it is good.
My tastes vary. I enjoy all types of music.
Sturgill has been one of my favorite artists for a while now and I just want something good from him.
I have not been blown away from the two new songs we’ve heard recently.
Just hoping the album is good.
Scott S.
March 22, 2016 @ 12:54 pm
Glad Sturgel agrees with me. I think the new song sounds country too.
Wally
March 24, 2016 @ 5:32 am
I’d rather have Sturgill spread his wings and play the music that’s in his heart than pander to the folks that say “this is what you need to play” or “this is how it should sound”.
I mean isn’t that music row in a nutshell?
Just my two cents from listening to Brace For Impact, it’s a natural progression from Metamodern and id rather Sturgill be moving forward than wearing out the template of Metamodern.
If you don’t like what he plays than don’t listen and don’t buy the album. There’s plenty of other Underground Real Country artists that don’t take chances, stick to the formula and produce great Country records.
What we’re seeing here isn’t Sturgill running from country but rather the growth a Musician finding his way in the music he loves to play. I for one will enjoy taking that ride with him as a fan of his music.
Rileyben81
March 24, 2016 @ 10:09 am
“All good music is Soul Music”
-Sturgill Simpson
What else is there to say?
sbach66
March 24, 2016 @ 11:11 am
“In Bloom” video released today. Can’t wait to hear other’s thoughts. I liked it, personally.
sbach66
March 24, 2016 @ 11:19 am
Should qualify, I like the song. Interesting video, though.
Stringbuzz
March 24, 2016 @ 11:11 am
I am really really digging the Nirvana cover of In Bloom..
That’s more like it Sturgill!!!!!!!!!!!
Monique Lavalette
March 30, 2016 @ 12:17 pm
Yes, you are right, if you like the artist, I don’t even know all Sturgill’s cd’s or records yet, I just saw his live show last year … and that was great, later I will definately buy some of his cd’s, won’t let me lead by the label that has been put on his music, just listen to if I like it, if I like most of the songs very much then that is the reason for me to buy an artists cd, and some artists I eventually collect all on them, it just depends, Sturgill Simpson caught my attention because I heard a lot of Waylon style in his music, without him trying to impersonate, that is great, I am pretty sure if Waylon Jennings was still around, he would probably also do one or more of Sturgill’s songs, there are not so many who have that sound, you can also see or feel at live shows he is a man with a character, I always like that. I wish Sturgill Simpson a lot of good luck on with his music.
Todd Olsen
March 30, 2016 @ 8:55 pm
Pretty sure I remember you writing an article when brace for impact came out saying you thought his next album wasn’t going to be country. Hmmmmmm
Pot
Kettle
Black
I do love the website though
Trigger
March 30, 2016 @ 9:04 pm
What I said, and what I’ve been saying is that we should all wait to actually hear the album before we jump to conclusions about how good it is, or what genre best to classify it in. Beyond that, Sturgill had also been saying that he no longer considered himself a country singer (I address this in the article), so he has been giving us a bit of a mixed message. My feeling is this is partly to do with the fact that labeling this album by genre is probably going to be pretty complicated. I think Sturgill’s statement was meant to chill folks out who were jumping to all kinds of conclusions before the record is released.
Rere
April 9, 2016 @ 11:48 pm
Can’t stand negative comments about ur sellout can u?
Trigger
April 10, 2016 @ 7:05 am
MY sellout? What control do I have over the career or direction of Sturgill Simpson? You don’t even know how I feel about the new record yet.
CountryKnight
August 19, 2022 @ 1:14 pm
Well, he lied.