I accidentally came across this today and didn't even recognize it as a cover of When In Rome's song at first. What kept me listening was the smoky, Memphis-era Elvis production and understated arrangement. Apparently Simpson is being touted as the guy who could save country music from the shitty contemporary pop bile its grown into over the last few decades. Based on this recording, I'm planning on checking him out.
I love a lot of the old country music I grew up on in the '70s, but I can't stand 'modern country'; as if the genre itself weren't enough to turn my stomach, it's being heavily consumed by white conservatives who pine for the mysterious 'Golden Age of America' (read: when Minorities, Women, and Homosexuals knew their place!).
Whoa, sorry! I don't know where all that came from.
I came across an interesting article that calls him the Radiohead of country... Seems I'm not alone in my early impressions.
Shitty quality, but this confirms my initial feelings about him. He reminds me a little of '70s Waylon Jennings.
Sturgill Simpson - Living the Dream
