Indeed, very easily my favorite in that category. Was pretty shocked he got in. It was such a crowded year for high-profile releases.
Had this at #13 but after a couple more listens, I think I might have ranked this too low. Just flows so well as an album Sea Stories is still my favorite
Currently announcing new dates for what looks like a fall tour in the most annoying fashion imaginable. New ones have been popping up sporadically over the last 20 minutes or so. Sturgill Simpson Upcoming Tour Dates
Dude just got added to Forecastle this summer, plus I'm seeing a Chicago date among those fall ones so one way or another I'll be seeing him later this year
Yeah, I actually felt like Stapleton had a chance last year, but Sturgill probably has more of an uphill battle. Then again, Morning Phase is an album of the year winner.
That record was so fucking forgettable to me I actually had to Google it just now haha. Sturgill will not win. But the fact that a dude from Eastern KY made a country record with Memphis horns and a Nirvana cover and even got nominated for AOTY Grammy is the musical coup of the decade. Not a blink from establishment Nashville and he is the new face of country music like it or not. Stuff like Arcade Fire winning back in 2011 is, for me, far less shocking than Sturgill getting the nom.
I even liked Morning Phase and probably couldn't tell you the name of a track. Other than "Morning" and "Phase." Sturgill getting an AOTY nomination is arguably the biggest surprise in Grammy history. Dude didn't even get a CMA nomination. In any category! Of the five artists nominated for Album of the Year, one of them performed at the CMAs and it wasn't the country artist. The entire thing is hilarious. I hope he shows up wearing a "Who the fuck is Sturgill Simpson?" shirt.
It's still further proof that these days traditional industry-standard genre definitions are meaningless. Especially as far as country music is concerned. There have been some dark days and some big cowboy hats but it's cool to finally see guys like Sturgill and Jason and Chris and others finally get their due, as the spiritual inheriters of the "alt-country/outlaw/Americana/wtf" tradition. If only Merle and Waylon and Gram could see them now...
I'm new to this guy, bought all 3 albums last week and this one is by far the best. So good. Love the horns! Already a fan of Isbell/Stapleton and Sturgill fits in the same awesome category for me.
Didn't watch his performance cause I'm not near a TV right now but apparently it was a Sharon Jones tribute?