Sturgill Simpson’s album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music is a unique blend of country, psychedelics, and philosophy. The album, released in 2014, features a mix of traditional country sounds and more experimental elements, such as the use of Tibetan Buddhism and Hindu cosmology in its lyrics.

Background

Simpson, who was raised in eastern Kentucky, has a diverse background that includes time in the Navy, working on railroads, and flipping pancakes at IHOP. He began his music career with the country-rock and bluegrass outfit Sunday Valley, but it was his solo work that brought him widespread recognition.

Metamodern Sounds in Country Music was recorded in just four days for roughly four thousand dollars. The album’s title nods toward Ray Charles’s landmark Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, and features a mix of original songs and covers, including a devastating country ballad version of the 1980s pop hit ‘The Promise’.

Influences and Style

Simpson’s influences are diverse and far-reaching, including John Prine, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, The Byrds, Van Morrison, and David Berman. His music is characterized by its emotional honesty, philosophical themes, and blend of traditional and experimental elements.

The album has been praised for its fearless authenticity and its ability to balance wisdom and absurdity within the same sentence. It has also been credited with helping to create space for artists who want to push the boundaries of country music without losing its roots.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.