alt.country

[WOM]

Sturgill Simpson's new album Sound & Fury is out. I have no fucking idea what to call it. It's....it's a Sturgill Simpson album...how's that? You should listen to it.

[danielmak]

Sturgill Simpson's new album Sound & Fury is out. I have no fucking idea what to call it. It's....it's a Sturgill Simpson album...how's that? You should listen to it.

I loved his first two records. The first one is mostly straight ahead honky tonk with more modern lyrics.

The second record was a game changer. I probably posted that turtles all the way down song in this thread, but here it is again.

But I couldn't get into the third record so never bought it. What I've heard from this new one is a bit too white boy blues for me. I love that Chris Stapleton has shown that country artists can get big without the support of mainstream country radio, but he's also too white boy blues for me. Of the newer crop of dudes making these moves, Cody Jinks is the most consistent for me:

[WOM]

My wife listens to Chris Stapleton on a loop. I don't mind it, but it doesn't really do much for me. The new Sturgill is excellent. But it ain't country and, fortunately, not blues.

[danielmak]

I guess I was thinking a Black Keys kind of blues versus BB King. Sturgill is always going to have that Kentucky drawl so some will argue that he's always going to sound a little country.

[WOM]

I guess I was thinking a Black Keys kind of blues versus BB King. Sturgill is always going to have that Kentucky drawl so some will argue that he's always going to sound a little country.

Yeah, agree with the Black Keys comparison for sure. It had crossed my mind when I gave this new one a first listen.

[hobbes]

Wow. I was terribly rude at the start of this thread.
Sorry all.
I mean country with or without the alt. at the beginning is still unbearable, but that's no reason to be obnoxious, is it?

[WOM]

So I guess you're giving the new Ken Burns documentary a swerve?

[WOM]

This is probably my favourite track off Sound & Fury. I have great confidence that it will change hobbes' mind about country.

[danielmak]

Disagree with hobbes, of course, about the general topic, but listened to a few tracks and wasn't feeling this record. The lede from Pitchfork kind of gets at it for me: "The fourth album from the country outlaw is another left-turn with synth-rock at its scuzziest, boogie-rock at its cheesiest, all held together by Simpson’s fearless songwriting." I think the "country outlaw" part has been gone since the second record, which was the attraction for me.

I'll check this track from WOM since I don't think I heard it yet.

This is more country than alt and a year+ old, but if Ken Burns brought any new fans to this thread, you'll love Joshua Hedley:

Maybe being on Jack White's label adds some alt to the country, but the sound is pure honky tonk:

[WOM]

Pitchfork should be dragged out behind the woodshed and shot. Not for the Sturgill review...just generally.

[WOM]

That Hedley guy isn't bad. He's clearly talented. But he's a little too spit-and-polish showband sounding for me. Like a Garth Brooks conservative-cowboy.

Do you like Nathaniel Raitliff? He's more my thing.

[danielmak]

I've heard him on the radio and like what I've heard, but haven't listened beyond that. I'll check out more on youtube.

[imp]

That's odd, there's a 'Guest' who made several posts on here back in 2008, but he/she has my profile. I thought it was me at first until I saw them reference several bands I've never heard of.

Hobbes, we thought, "That's just hobbes being a wanker" and left it. You never got back to me on The Cure country cover versions album, did you? Though I've softened my stance the past couple of years after giving 'Pornography' a proper listen, and picking up a cheap vinyl copy of 'The Head on the Door'.

[ad hoc]

That's odd, there's a 'Guest' who made several posts on here back in 2008, but he/she has my profile. I thought it was me at first until I saw them reference several bands I've never heard of.

the "guests" take on the profile of the person reading. So to you, all guests will be Jaffa Cake loving Lincoln fans. Whereas to me they all seem like ginger cream eating Wednesday fans

[WOM]

Why do people appear as Guest, though? I don't remember us ever having a way for non-registered people to post.

[ursus arctos]

That's a fine question.

It isn't people who have deleted their accounts, as those posts are gone. Perhaps there is some rather long period of inactivity after which one's posts are attributed to Guest?

[ad hoc]

One of the guests on page 1 of this thread was "Disney Girl Does Dulwich" which is a user name I have no recollection of

[ursus arctos]

A friend of evilC, IIRC

[WOM]

Perhaps there is some rather long period of inactivity after which one's posts are attributed to Guest?

That sounds likely. Or maybe something to do with a migration from one board to another, and not porting the 'back end' of disused accounts.

[hobbes]

Hobbes, we thought, "That's just hobbes being a wanker" and left it. You never got back to me on The Cure country cover versions album, did you? Though I've softened my stance the past couple of years after giving 'Pornography' a proper listen, and picking up a cheap vinyl copy of 'The Head on the Door'.

Oh I did, back in 2016, a mere 8 years on. My reply was on page 2.

I must have missed imps question back in 2008.
The answer is no. I can barely be arsed to buy the shit they (occasionally) throw out these days anyway. An album of country covers? I'd rather not.

[danielmak]

There is no way anyone would guess these guys are from France:

[Mr Beast]

https://youtu.be/4JINo4Lib90

Not sure if this link will work, but Hobbes may agree with me that the intro sounds suspiciously like The Cure circa 1985

[danielmak]

Not "alt" so straight up country.

[danielmak]

It's crazy to think someone has this level of songwriting talent to post via a phone recording.