Saving Country Music’s 2016 Artist of the Year
Yeah, I know. I know. I don’t need you to tell me how not country Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth is. I don’t want to hear how horn sections have no place in country music. Did you happen to notice the name of this website as you navigated here? Don’t think the country-ness of A Sailor’s Guide hasn’t been a hot topic of discussion in this corner of the internet in the past to the point of being volleyballed back and forth ad nauseum. And I don’t care if you happen to think that Metamodern Sounds in Country Music was a better record. This isn’t an album award, it is an artist award. It’s also my award. And I will give it to whomever I damn well please.
For outstanding efforts and noble achievement in the realm of country music in 2016, Saving Country Music has come to the solemn conclusion that Sturgill Simpson is the 2016 Saving Country Music Artist of the Year. This is a distinction that is handed out not as a default, or as a lazy, easy, or obvious choice, though it may seem that way to some. A lot of thought, and frankly, a little bit of trepidation preceded this decision, including from the fact that Sturgill’s most recent recorded effort was a slight departure from the country sound, which is not an indictment of the effort itself (we’re all music fans first, and then our loyalties break down genre lines), but it certainly isn’t the trajectory most take to securing a country award. But this choice is the right one, because despite whatever reservations some country music purists may have with Sturgill, it was his efforts beyond the music, but for the music, that earned him this distinction.
“If the ACM wants to actually celebrate the legacy and music of Merle Haggard, they should drop all the formulaic cannon fodder bullshit they’ve been pumping down rural America’s throat for the last 30 years along with all the high school pageantry, meat parade award show bullshit and start dedicating their programs to more actual Country Music,” Sturgill Simpson said on August 29th, 2016, in a scathing missive that sent shock waves and reverberations throughout the country music world, including in the finely appointed offices of the mainstream country music establishment. Sturgill also took on Garden & Gun for pulling a bait and switch at Merle Haggard’s expense with one of their 2016 cover stories.
Whether you think Sturgill’s comments were perfect, patent, or too pointed, they put the topic of how country music’s traditional legends are treated at the very top of the public discussion docket, and put the industry on alert that their actions would not go unanswered for another year. The truth is, artists like Dale Watson and Whitey Morgan say similar things on nearly a daily basis. Sites like Saving Country Music and others write similar opinions with predictable rapidity. But they’re just part of the everyday noise that may help spread the awareness of what’s going on in country, but ultimately blends into the background in 24 hours or less.
But Sturgill Simpson’s words resonated, because they were from Sturgill Simpson. It underscores once again that country music will never be saved by Facebook pages, protest songs, or websites, but the words of the right artists at the right time who are willing to sacrifice their standing in the insular country music industry by having the audacity to speak the truth unfiltered. It’s not just about Sturgill Simpson going all sour grapes. It’s that his words mattered in the grand scheme. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it was coincidence that three months later the 2016 CMA Awards opened with a Merle Haggard song and an extended medley of classic country covers as opposed to the usual cross genre teaser and pyrotechnic extravaganza usually commenced with to lure in the widest possible audience.
One pissed off Facebook missive is not enough to crown someone Artist of the Year though. It’s what transpired afterwards that took Sturgill from sort of meandering after he’d wrapped his A Sailor’s Guide tour, to being nominated for Album of the Year by the Grammy Awards. Again, I don’t care if you think that it should have been Metamodern Sounds receiving the Album of the Year nomination. It wasn’t, and we don’t possess Marty McFly’s time machine to solve that. The Grammy Awards have always worked in arrears with non-radio artists. The important thing is that they eventually did recognize Sturgill’s efforts, and now everyone else is doing the same as this upstaging nominee has everyone asking “Who is Sturgill?” and wondering if he could actually win in a crowded field that could cancel each other out.
Whether Sturgill wins in February or not, the damage has been done. The rest of the music industry now knows what the rest of us have been trying to tell them for the last 10 years: There’s an amazing talent pool of artists living in the shadow of Music Row that if just given a chance, will shine and even excel on the national stage. Chris Stapleton—who Sturgill helped open the door for—proved that, and now Sturgill himself is. The losers and forgotten are now the winners. And it’s all because Sturgill Simpson had the audacity to follow his heart, both on and off the stage, to help lead country music out of the morass it has been stuck in for decades.
It’s all because one man was finally given the creative authority to do what he wanted with his music, and more importantly, he did something that resonated beyond his own, humble little audience. And are you honestly going to argue against all that just because you have some mealy-mouthed protestation about the appropriateness of horns in country? I know what Bob Wills, Lyle Lovett, The Mavericks, and Merle Haggard would have to say about that, but that’s beside the point. Yes, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth is not strictly a country record, but it’s also not as non country as some would love to argue. And save your screeds about how Saving Country Music is in the back pocket of the Sturgill camp. Aside from being one of the guy’s early champions, Saving Country Music easily remains one of his staunchest critics. But at some point you just have to shut the hell up and recognize greatness and achievement.
Yes, some would have loved a more country effort from Sturgill on this last go ’round. But let’s not let that cloud our judgement on just what an impact this man had on the music in 2016, turning a scathing rant into a late-year rally, and ultimately into a historic run that has him competing for the top distinction in all of music right beside Adele and Beyoncé. Do you remember seeing Sturgill Simpson with seven other people in a small bar on a Sunday night? I do. And watching his climb has been an inspiring story and an exercise in belief in ones self, and the possibility of what can happen when true, generational talent is allowed to flourish.
January 4, 2017 @ 9:43 am
You might find this interesting. Not country at all, but this is my favorite band doing a cover of Call To Arms at the NYE show. They’re known for being musicians, not singers, haha.
January 4, 2017 @ 10:52 am
Sorry, forgot the link.
https://youtu.be/T2Jw5Ut4KX8
January 4, 2017 @ 9:58 am
Great call. Courageous and correct.
January 4, 2017 @ 9:58 am
The high tide lifts all boats. Whether it is Sturgill or other critical favorites,, the drums are beating ever louder for the country artists who “exist” and excel without major radio play. An increasing number of consumers are discovering music in different ways now. “If you like artist A, you might also like artist B.” 2017 looks like a good year for the traditional country fans. Sturgill has a good opportunity with the Grammy exposure, and some of my other favorites have new music on the way.
January 4, 2017 @ 10:10 am
First time I saw Sturgill was as the opening act for Jason Isbell. There were more than 7 people in there but I don’t think more than 5 knew who he was. He did about 4 or 5 songs. I can’t remembering having been that excited about country music in years. I’ve seen him three times since. It would have been dumb to pick anyone other than him this year. He sounded like a country artist then and he still sounds like one now.
January 4, 2017 @ 10:10 am
Great call. One should never let the “perfect” be the enemy of “damn good”. Despite the incessant claims for perfection, one will live a better life once one accepts that perfect does not and can’t exist. Mr. Simpson may stretch his wings every now and then to see how it feels, but he would be trying to fool himself and everybody else if he claimed not to be country.
January 4, 2017 @ 10:16 am
How dare you not give this distinction to Beyoncé! “Daddy Lessons” is greater than this Sturgill guy could ever hope to be, and this horrendous Bet snubbing blatantly proves you as the racist sexist xenophobe you are!
(Sarcasm alert, in case you didn’t guess)
January 4, 2017 @ 10:46 am
Great article. I didn’t want Sturgill for song of the year because their were too many others that perfectly encapsulated what country music could be.(I wanted I’m not the devil for song of the year because one simple statement can say so much, 3 chords/truth). But you’re right Sturgill has to be artist of the year, not just on this list but many more. The Grammy nod proves to outsiders this is legitimate and tells us there is hope.
Hey, come on now… You gotta admit he kinda, sorta is country music’s savior. At least the spokesman for the truth? What about last hope? Maybe , brightest beacon of light in a dark musical seascape. Just kidding, great choice, good luck Sturgill!
January 4, 2017 @ 10:50 am
Wasn’t sure you would go there, but you did, and I like it! Hopefully he carries the torch through 2017 and far beyond!!
January 4, 2017 @ 11:12 am
He’s now won the award outright twice and shared it once (based on a search on this site of “[Year] Artist of the Year” – search results go back to 2010). But as Trigger stated, it is his site and his award to hand out, so he can give it to whomever he pleases.
I do understand the reasoning for awarding Simpson this honor based on his August comments and what they will hopefully do for other artists. My only fear is that SCM will eventually allow Simpson to enter a realm similarly populated by the likes of Springsteen and Clapton at Rolling Stone, where either of them could release an album of farts and it is praised as revolutionary and groundbreaking.
January 4, 2017 @ 12:17 pm
I wouldn’t say Trigger actually gave the album that kind of review.
Hard to argue with the award any of those years either.
January 4, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
I agree Stringbuzz, I don’t think Trigger gave the album a review like that either. My concern was geared more towards the future. I apologize if my comment didn’t make that clear.
January 4, 2017 @ 1:08 pm
I think it’s very important to understand this is not an album award, but an artist award. I had paragraphs of critical commentary on “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.” It wasn’t even considered for Album of the Year, meaning it wasn’t in my Top 10, though I think it’s a very good album and deserves whatever praise it has received.
In July, there was no way Sturgill Simpson would be considered for something like this. After the Grammy nominations came out, I’m not sure I had any other choice. And though I’m seeing some criticize this pick, I’m not seeing anyone offer a candidate who was better qualified in 2016.
January 4, 2017 @ 1:41 pm
I think it’s important that you pointed out in your opening statement the first sentence in this statement and anyone who needs to see it twice needs to learn to read.
The facts presented can’t be legitimately refuted. Good job, as usual.
But I have a question or two concerning the Grammy nomination.
1), do you think it’s possible the nomination is a token?
I’m cynical about awards shows and their completely commercial interests.
2), who really cares about a nomination by such a self serving entity?
I don’t. See the comment at (1).
January 4, 2017 @ 4:46 pm
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “token,” but the nomination process for Album of the Year is stringent enough that they can’t just decide to put an album in the top nominations. Either it receives the votes, or it doesn’t.
Also, not all awards shows are the same. There is a massive difference between the CMA and ACMs, and the Grammy Awards. The Grammys actually recognize artists in hundreds of categories, while also being the largest public advocate for music in American culture, including lobbying Congress for laws and reforms that protect musicians and their intellectual property, promoting musical education, and preserving music history. They just also happen to throw an awards show every year as well. It’s not for everyone, but if you’ve ever watched the pre-broadcast awards, you would be blown away by how much effort is extended for artists that otherwise go completely unrecognized by society.
January 4, 2017 @ 2:42 pm
Thanks for the reply Trigger. I understand that the award was rewarded based on Simpson’s “efforts beyond the music” as you stated, and apologize if I didn’t make that clear enough at the beginning of my 2nd paragraph.
January 4, 2017 @ 5:32 pm
No need to apologize Bandit, it is a fair concern and you articulated it well. I honestly thought a lot about this (probably too much), and I’m always for spreading the wealth around when it comes to these kind of things.
January 4, 2017 @ 11:35 am
While I agree with this pick, I still can’t figure out why Sturgill? Plenty of other guys with chops (Dale Watson, Hank III, etc.) have been saying these same things for well over a decade. Is it just time and folks are finally fed up or is it something more?
January 4, 2017 @ 12:19 pm
I think it is lyrics.
He just has a way of saying things.
The voice..
And that band of his is ferocious.
January 4, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Interesting, Stringbuzz. I understand I seem to be in a very small camp here but perhaps my biggest concern with SS is his actual way of saying things.I’m frustrated by and cannot get past his muffled , mumbling vocals which , in my opinion , are not remarkable enough to stand on their own ….aside from the audibility factor . In terms of his writing , again …i’m not as impressed as many seem to be . Its apparent that this doesn’t bother most people so I won’t beat this to death .
Trigger …I appreciate and respect your rationale above . In fact , for me the this is the ONLY reasoning I can get on side with when it comes to SS . I guess it comes down to my having heard so much music that I’d consider better in terms of writing , performance , production , and relate-ability from across the musical spectrum that I still scratch my head at SS’ success . But again , your rationale is easier for me to get behind than SS music .
January 4, 2017 @ 2:33 pm
Not sure how anyone can say lyrically that he’s overrated. Is he hard to understand sometimes? Most definitely, but to say he’s not a good or even great songwriter makes me wonder if you even know the lyrics . I’ll take Isbell’s word on how great a songwriter SS is over any random commenter on the internet.
January 4, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
Having a masters degree would think for the most part I’m fairly smart. When it comes to sturgill he’s got a whole different intellect that I just don’t understand always. His readings and words, many I just don’t get. I think he’s brilliant though. The part that I think seems most impossible with him to follow as a singer would be how he sing so his songs. Listening to metamodern perhaps 100 times and he’s so hard to sing with and know where he’s going. Three words maybe at a 3 then go to an 8 for about five words and then back to a 5 for some more. I can’t predict it even knowing it fairly well.
I also think a lot of the stuff was written in almost another dimension of thinking. It’s a dimension that most of us will never be in our lifetimes. Guys like hank sr, Jamey Johnson, or Waylon on a four day binge. The thoughts of being up for 48 hours straight and where your mind goes. LSD, cocaine, and alcohol.
January 5, 2017 @ 2:00 am
Godd point there Charlie. He might be a musical and intellectual genius, actually. Thing is, I think his drummer is a genius too. I’ve tried to follow his playing and it’s just impossible even though it sounds like he just keeps a great swing going it’s obviusly more than that and I can not figure it out. Sturgill and his band, damn.
January 6, 2017 @ 10:00 pm
I agree. Seeing him live for the first time this past year was incredible. Every song featured extended solos and the band killed it. His voice is also more powerful live than I thought it would be. Easily one of the best live shows (if not the best) that I’ve seen.
January 4, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
Because nobody cares what a white trash junky like hank 3 has to say about anything.
January 4, 2017 @ 11:55 am
Sturgil has had more impact as an artist, and is certainly the bigger name, but I also want to give a shout out to Lori McKenna, who not only got headway on country radio (using Tim), but also produced a very good album of her own.
January 4, 2017 @ 12:16 pm
Dude. Seriously. He’s already married. Back off.
January 4, 2017 @ 1:03 pm
With kids no less.
January 4, 2017 @ 1:17 pm
I have to agree. While we have been told for years by Nashville that pop country brings pop fans to country, which it doesn’t, A Sailors Guide To Earth absolutely has brought in fans. I can name 6 people I know that hadn’t given Sturgill Simpson the time of day until they heard this album. My wife being one of them. I’m always trying to get her to listen to new/underground/Alt country/Americana etc, but our tastes differ some. Where I prefer a more honky tonk flavor she prefers a more western swing sound. But after ignoring me, I made her listen to A Sailors Guide and before I knew it she knew every song he ever sang by heart and is a bigger fan than I am. Including her, 5 of the people became fans of his entire catalog of music. The 6th person is a country hater that is a fan of A Sailors Guide…but I would imagine that there are a lot of people that was turned on to his older work amd in turn other artists because of the buzz about this album.
January 4, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
Agree.
I know quite a few people, who have hooked on to Sturgill.
Most of them weren’t fans of country. Most I consider having pretty good taste in the music they listen to (even though not country. lol)
Now, this year now I’ve run into a couple of them at a Cody Jink show.
I’ve gotten emails asking about the upcoming Whisky Myer’s and weird shyt like that.
one of them turned into a huge Jason Isbell fan.
All started with Sturgill.
January 5, 2017 @ 2:06 am
“Where I prefer a more honky tonk flavor she prefers a more western swing sound” Sounds like true love right there.
January 4, 2017 @ 2:09 pm
”I know quite a few people, who have hooked on to Sturgill.
Most of them weren’t fans of country.”
The problem I have with this statement , Stringbuzz , is that so many people have said the same thing about Sam Hunt , The Kruze Kids , Luke Bryan , Rhett and many many others …. ” I don’t really like country but I love Sam Hunt ”
NONE of the above -mentioned artists are country . They are ” Country Radio ” but they are the furthest thing imagineable from country music . Not saying their brand of music doesn’t have its fans …just like reggae or Gregorian Chant …..but THIS STUFF IS NOT COUNTRY MUSIC .
January 4, 2017 @ 2:39 pm
I guess I could’ve added that I personally don’t know many real country music fans. That’s why I come to the site.
These people came in and became fans of what I am considering the good stuff these days because of starting with Sturgill. Now supporting these artists. Not supporting the commercial side. Realizing there is a side of country music that holds integrity to music, song writing, musical growth and musicianship high.
I am not a traditionalist. I like good music.
if I want to listen to more classic sounding, I listen to the classics. No one will do that style better.
I don’t have an issue with Sturgill, I like music to move forward and involve and really like what he is doing.
January 4, 2017 @ 3:14 pm
Jason Isbell makes me want to take xanax and slit my wrists.
January 4, 2017 @ 5:02 pm
When Sturgill said “I’m plotting your destruction” four years ago, he wasn’t joking.
January 4, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
I thought you might choose a country artist, but it is your site.
January 4, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
Respect the pick and I like sturgill, but sailors guide just wasnt my cup of tea. I just didn’t think it was country and didn’t really like the sound. Loved his first two albums but this one just didn’t do it for me. I like that he does his own thing and speaks his mind, but I just can’t get into this last album. I thought the Whitey pick last year was right but I think this year should have been Jinks, along with album of the year.
January 4, 2017 @ 9:16 pm
The album in question is kinda like A-Rod going from the Rangers to the Yankees back in the day. He’s really good, but wouldn’t you rather see him play for the Rangers? I get it, it has little to do with the album, so I see where you’re coming from.
I would’ve almost double dipped on Cody Jinks. But that’s just me. Sturgill will remain to be awesome in my mind though
January 4, 2017 @ 10:15 pm
Artists that are easily understood, have a great impact; however, the artists that make you ponder your perception of the art are ones that have the greater and more lasting impact. They change the game – Willie, Waylon, Cash, Haggard for example. A Sailor’s Guide is not an album you can pigeon-hole to any particular genre. It leans Americana to horn rock to alternative country. It’s like combining some of the greatest artists of the past 40-50 years into a hodgepodge and coming out with a result all its own. It’s Blood, Sweat, and Tears, The Highwaymen (together and/or individually), Dylan, Tom Petty, and Nirvana(because of the obvious, and that they also were a game changer at their time) mixed in a blender and poured out for all. IMO, It is the most artistic and musically diverse album, with an equally deep meaning, that was released last year, and possibly for the last few years. Sturgill had the vision and orchestrated that vision for all of to hear. He may not be country enough for some, but you can not argue his authentic and artistic impact.
January 4, 2017 @ 11:33 pm
Really good, thoughtful comment, M Wot, after Trigger’s really well written article with a well defended position. Sturgill Simpson is an excellent choice for artist of the year based upon the excellent rationale written above. Unlike his first two albums that leapt out of the gate for me on first listen, it took me a few listens to get into A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. But once it clicked, it clicked deeply. Enjoyed all the comments here as well!
January 7, 2017 @ 9:27 am
Isn’t the blender method exactly what artists should be doing? I have always thought that the best way to be yourself as an artist is to study every sound/song/artist you love and once you add enough pieces together, that’s who you are as a musician/artist. I’m talking about tens of thousands of small pieces to become one artist, ie mosaic style.
January 5, 2017 @ 9:54 am
Ive been on the Sturgill bandwagon since his days in Lexington with Sunday Valley. I remember going to shows at The Dame thst were one in, one out because of the cult following he had developed here.
I know SGTE may not be everyone’s “country” cup of tea, but its still a damned fine album. Keep on killing SS.
January 5, 2017 @ 11:28 am
The most controversial part of this blog entry is calling it, to quote the author, “Marty McFly’s time machine.” We all know that the time machine was created by Dr. Emmett Brown.
January 6, 2017 @ 7:21 am
Hahahaha
January 6, 2017 @ 7:56 pm
Hands down the right pick. Y’all know how fucking tired of the ‘country-not country’ bullshit I get. Sturgill is his own thing and that’s exactly what separates him from other GREAT county artist like Cody, whitey, fill in the blank. That’s also why SGTE is a masterpiece. Sturgill had to balls to say “fuck what you think, this is what I’m feeling”.
Call the album Americana, Country, Southern Rock, call it whatever you want. I was one here day 1 saying how badass it was while he was getting RIPPED by most for breaking away from Meta. Trig I think you gave it a 7.5. Well I think it’s going be Grammy album of the motherfucking year
January 6, 2017 @ 10:03 pm
I agree that Sturgill should win 100%, and I agree with your reasons why. The phrase “high school pageantry, meat parade award show bullshit” would do it for me alone.