UPDATED: Sturgill Simpson’s “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” Battling for #1 Album All Genre
This story has been updated (see below).
Sturgill Simpson is poised to have the #1 album in all of music next week with his new release A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, and Chris Stapleton’s Traveller could come in right behind him at #2. Nipping at their heels is the newest album from Santana released by Thirty Tigers called Santana IV, and Rihanna’s latest record Anti, supported by strong streaming numbers for the week.
As for pure physical and digital album sales, Sturgill Simpson is running away with the lead according to HITS Daily Double‘s building albums chart, and barring some unforeseen event, A Sailor’s Guide will be #1. With 2/3’rds of retail outlets reporting, Sturgill has sold 22,963 albums, and is expected to finish at around the 40,000-45,000 album range. This puts him well ahead of his nearest competition, Santana and Chris Stapleton, who are expected to finish in the 29,000-33,000 range.
READ: Album Review Sturgill Simpson’s “A Sailor’s Guide To Earth”
The only real competition Sturgill Simpson has is from Rihanna due to equivalent album sales that calculate in streaming data. Though Anti is only expected to sell 12,000-14,000 pure albums, her “sales + streaming” numbers are expected to put her right up with Sturgill in the 43,000-48,000 range. Sturgill is only expected to earn about 3,000 equivalent sales when considering streaming data. Though Billboard does keep charts for pure album sales and Sturgill is sure to top it, the industry-leading “Billboard 200” also considers streaming data in its final tabulations. We may not know until the last minute whether it is Sturgill or Rihanna who leads the field.
Sturgill will most certainly go #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart . . . if Billboard decides to deem his record country. That is why the issue facing Green River Ordinance earlier this year—when the Texas country band was surreptitiously withheld from the country charts—was so critically important. Sturgill may have a better chance since his previous records were classified country and he is based in Nashville, but nothing is guaranteed since the album isn’t considered purely “country” even by Simpson.
If A Sailor’s Guide to Earth does go #1 in country, it will be only one of four albums to dethrone Chris Stapleton’s Traveller at the top of the country albums chart since the aftermath of the CMA Awards last November. It would also give Sturgill and Stapleton the #1 and #2 spots in country—something nobody would have predicted 18 months ago. Sales around 45,000 would also put Sturgill near where Jason Isbell came in when he charted his #1 album in country last year.
***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***
4/22/16: After the unfortunate death of pop superstar Prince, and aided by the fact that his music is not available for streaming, sales of two Price albums—The Very Best of Prince, and Purple Rain—surged on the charts, and dethroned Sturgill Simpson at the top. The Very Best of Prince sold an estimated 95,824 copies, and Purple Rain sold 55,315 copies in roughly 14 hours on the final day of sales tabulations. This put Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth at 3rd with 48,775 copies. Sturgill could still top the Billboard Country Albums chart, as long as chart managers deem his album as country. Final numbers and chart placement will be determined in the next couple of days.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:16 am
Saw itunes country chart today had Sturgill, Stapleton, and Wheeler Walker, Jr as the top 1-3 albums. It was really weird to good music in all the top spots.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:46 am
One year ago, the top three were Darius Rucker, Sam Hunt, and a Now that’s what I call country compilation. If that is not a testament to what a phenomenal year we’ve had, I don’t know what is.
April 20, 2016 @ 3:11 pm
Yeah, country may never be saved(if saved means only good music being put out), but I think we’re as close as we’re going to get with Sturgill, Chris, and Jason Isbell.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:16 am
Light a cigar, folks. Country music may not be “saved” in any definitive sense, but it’s looking artistically healthier than it has in years. Now if we could just get some airplay for these folks: then the revolution will have truly arrived.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:37 am
Airplay, shmairplay…. anyone who still uses the radio as their main medium of discovery doesn’t want anything more. Seems like they’re doing fine without it. But I agree 100%, these are exciting times.
Thanks Trigger for everything you do on this site. I’m not going to say this wouldn’t have happened without you, but you fanned the flames on his career for sure. There’s not a bigger fan of Sturgill than me, but I wouldn’t have been brought to him if not for you.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:33 am
I think just about anyone who frequents this site could say the same. I know I can, and I’m forever indebted to this site for that. All hail the Triggerman!
April 20, 2016 @ 11:46 am
Aw shucks fellas, just sharing my passion for the music. All credit goes to the artists. Just trying to help point folks in the right direction.
April 20, 2016 @ 12:07 pm
Trig, I asked this on the review post, but it got lost amongst the 200 or however many comments, but what the hell does “Beware the Dread Pirate Johnny Blue Skies” mean? It’s in the liner notes and on the poster that comes with the limited edition LP. It goes along with the nautical theme, sure, and it could be an inside joke…that wouldn’t be unheard-of in liner notes, but it’s on the poster. Not like you have a direct line to the man to ask but just wanting to hear your speculation.
April 20, 2016 @ 12:36 pm
Hey Stork,
Yeah, I’m not really sure what that’s all about. I have a request in to interview the artist who did the cover. They might have some insight.
April 20, 2016 @ 2:09 pm
You know, I have to disagree. While I agree that radio is not the best way to discover music, I still only have AM/FM radio in my truck. I think it is still important to have quality music on the radio. Plus, I live in Illinois, not somewhere like Texas, where I have the luxury to hear someone like Cody Jinks on The Ranch. As much as I listen to my albums at work and home, the local radio stations are all I got while driving, and I’d love to have better music during that time.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:17 am
Go Sturgill!!
I could care less what genre they put this in.
I wish him all the success he can get. I hope he expands his fan base. I hope Atlantic is happy for signing him.
I love this album.
This album is a work of ART. If people can’t recognize that, there is just no hope for some.
It might not be art that is directly appealing to some, but that doesn’t mean those people shouldn’t wish him well.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:24 am
Having listened to the album, i don’t see how it could possibly be classified as country. If you like it- great. Its just not for me. But i wish him the best of success.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:28 am
Wow 45,000 records that’s not very many. There are Houston rappers in the early 2000s who sold that from the trunk of their car. Sturgill deserves number one. That’s awesome
April 20, 2016 @ 9:09 am
I thought the same thing. It’s great that he should be #1, but that says a lot about how many people are actually buying records.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:28 am
You can’t compare. It’s a different age. Today, 200,000 sales in a year is big. 10 years ago you would get dropped from your label. The industry of today cannot be compared to yesterday.
These days 40,000 is pretty strong. Regardless #1 is #1; means you beat everyone else.
I think this album will pick up momentum as folks hear it too.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:47 am
Another thing that happens is that when an album goes number one, it leads to more publicity and discussion, which leads to more sales, and so on. It’s a virtuous cycle.
That’s what happened when Isbell’s Something More Than Free topped four charts at once, according to Isbell. Hopefully something similar will happen with Sturgill.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:41 am
I hope for his sake he gets the number one spot, but it won’t be from my help. Bought a few songs, but couldn’t bring myself to buy the whole thing.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:47 am
My record store didn’t have the new Sturgill when I went in yesterday… I’m not sure if I’m unhappy or not, I’m seeing him in June, and I definitely want to get something signed… These two men are on the fast track to destroying everything Scott Borchetta has built, and his bro empire is crashing around him. So sit back, light a pipe (I don’t smoke, I just chew on the stem of the pipe) and watch in amazement.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:34 am
Borchetta has already started to pivot with Maddie and Tae, The Mavericks, Ashley Campbell and letting Tim McGraw sing Tim McGraw songs again.
Dude’s too smart to bet everything on the bubble.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:44 am
Truth. The man is totally ahead of the game. Taylor Swift announced she was leaving Country for Pop right before the tide started to change, although her music was mostly pop already. He’s not losing any sleep (or money) over this.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:30 am
This is encouraging. See the #1,2,3 spots on the Country charts next week. This is
a shift where the next few months will lead for next year concerts and sales. Keep
a watch for late summer releases. We are starting to see rumbling within “music row”.
All that’s left for NashVille is get on board or get left behind. This shift has started,where
will it lead the diehards is anyone’s guess.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:42 am
Congrats Sturgill, people surely bought it based on meta’s genius. It seems to be a polarizing album with a lot of people asking wtf. Personally, I think the album is awful compared to his previous efforts. I keep forcing myself to listen to it, but I’m about done. There’s nothing positive to say about this album.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:34 am
That’s not really fair to say. You may have bought it because of MetaModern, but this new album has been critically heralded as his best work. Holding the top critical rank has certainly helped sales & expanded his audience. Here is a list of the reviews below. I’m not saying you should like it because the critics like it, & by all means, don’t force yourself to listen to something you hate. I just don’t think it’s cool to attribute this albums success to the others just because you liked them better.
http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/7951/Sturgill-Simpson-A-Sailors-Guide-To-Earth.aspx
April 20, 2016 @ 10:40 am
People like what they like, but I don’t think anyone can honestly say it’s his best work. I don’t care so much that it’s so different, but everything about it is not up to his standards. I don’t put any weight into reviews, unless I know and trust the reviewer. Don’t forget this is his major label release and all the trickery that comes with deep pockets behind him. Go out to Amazon and look at all the people that are disappointed and compare it to meta.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:59 am
Yeah, but I can just as easily say look at all the people that say they love it on Amazon & ITunes & YouTube & Twitter. If it was just one reviewer I’d get your point, but it’s all the reviews. 10s, 9s and mostly 8s, which is better than MetaModern got. Even this site gave him an 8.
It seems unlikely that all these people were tricked by the label into writing awesome reviews. Most writers live for trashing highly anticipated albums.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:13 am
On Amazon, 30% of the reviews are 3 stars or less. For meta, it’s 4%.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:36 am
Apples to oranges number wise. To be fair you’d have to compare them both at the same stage in release cycle. Considering that, most of his previous fans who have biases considering their expectations would be the ones that were disappointed he didn’t make another country album. They would be the first to post negative reviews on Amazon, (iTunes they are ranked almost evenly). In a year & a half I bet you’ll see a rise in positive reviews from people who are just discovering him & like this album. The critical reviews are a good projection for that.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:36 am
It’s a polarizing album in that it’s much different than what’s come before it, so I’m not surprised that the Amazon reviews are worse that MMSICM. I see that Hayes Carll’s new one isn’t faring too well, either, probably for similar reasons. I genuinely like both new releases, but wouldn’t call either my favorite.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:44 am
You’re surprised that 30% of the reviewers were pissed off hipsters who jumped on the metamodern bandwagon and then found out he’s not like them?
April 20, 2016 @ 11:32 am
I think it’s at least just as good if not the best. I consider myself pretty well versed across all music.
So there is one vote. Just sayin’
April 20, 2016 @ 11:52 am
Well I think it’s safe to say you’re in the majority, even in this comments section.
April 20, 2016 @ 12:37 pm
You say that you don’t think anyone can honestly say that it’s his best work, but I’d disagree. I think that it is his best work by far. At the very least it’s my favorite Sturgill Simpson CD. I liked Metamodern, but it was a CD that grew on me over time. I didn’t love it at first. And I don’t like High Top Mountain that much (I’d say about half of the songs on it are great, the rest are ones that I could take or leave). This CD is fantastic. It’s not just a CD, it’s a piece of art. I love it from beginning to end and I think that it’s his masterpiece.
April 20, 2016 @ 12:08 pm
I put Sturgill right up there with the likes of the Backstreet Boys man. Both acts are really larger than life if you ask me.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:49 am
45,000 would be roughly what Isbell’s SMTF sold in its first week, I believe.
April 20, 2016 @ 3:07 pm
Around 86k I believe if you counted the streaming, may have been higher
April 20, 2016 @ 10:39 am
Watching this happen is such a great feeling.The way I gauge his success, a little over 5 years ago when I started listening to his music,when you googled his name you had to type his whole name in, and it would offer other spellings. Now you type Stu and there he is. Maybe not billboard charts, but accurate enough for me.
Trigger I dont know why you or SCM are never mentioned in articles and interviews about Sturgill. You were the one as far as I can tell who brought attention to him. I don’t know maybe I missed something, but I find nothing about him before SCM started following him. Thank you, if you don’t get mentioned any where else you do with me. With that and $1.06 you can get something off the dollar menu at McDonalds. Very Thankful for you and this site.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:06 am
The Wikipedia page on sturgill cites scm, if that counts for anything.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:06 am
Good points. I did notice a lot of posts from Sturgill’s Facebook page linking to mainstream media articles about ASGTE (Rolling Stone, NPR, etc.), most of which were on the fawning side and not terribly deep. Meanwhile, Trigger wrote an in depth, 20+ paragraph review that was overall quite positive and no link to it. Other artists have linked to SCM reviews, such as The Mavericks and James McMurtry. I think Raul’s reaction to the In Time review was that it was the best review they had ever gotten. I do remember that when Sturgill was still doing his own posts to Facebook, he wrote something very nice when Trigger named him and Isbell as SCM artists of the year. Something about the only guy who kicks his ass and one of the last real music journalists. I gather that his peeps might think SCM too polarizing or whatever.
April 20, 2016 @ 12:41 pm
Hey Grady,
I appreciate the kudos. I did get behind Sturgill pretty early, but Sturgill has been the right artist for the right time, and folks probably would have found him eventually.
As for Sturgill’s peeps not linking to articles, that’s par for the course these days. Publicists work deals with major periodicals for features, and then it is expected that the artist will link to the big periodical to draw in more clicks. This is happening all across music, and is just as prevalent in independent music now as it is in the mainstream, even for smaller artists. It’s a “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” system that doesn’t really have the best interests in the public in mind, but that’s the way it is. I’ve gotten used to working along the periphery.
April 20, 2016 @ 2:43 pm
Folks may have found him, they didn’t first time around, but who knows. I do know where I found him and several others. I love Sturgill and I meant no disrespect at all toward him. I mean if he started a cult I’m in, I’m hooked on that damn Kool-Ade. Seen several Bands and Musicians benefit from SCM some grateful, and some say some terrible things. I would have given up or had to go to prison for killin folks.Glad you didn’t. Gettin a lil too sweet here. Man just keep on keepin on you the fuckin man.
April 20, 2016 @ 11:37 am
It’s well earned. Doubt he reads through reviews but if he does I just hope he gets off the career end claim after 2 more albums (5 record catalog). I’m hoping he was really high that day on JRS and didn’t really mean that. But hey got to respect the hell out of a guy that doesn’t want to make an album for the sake of making an album. This one is a masterpiece like the other two so I look forward to at least 2 more.
April 20, 2016 @ 1:43 pm
I think going on Rogan was big for Simpson’s publicity. Rogan shouted out this album on instagram last week, and it seems to be getting a lot of attention from fans who otherwise have no interest in the country genre. Personally, I don’t understand it. I’m not a huge fan of the album, and I thought that the liberal use of horns and steel guitar would turn people off, but props to him on this one. I’m happy to be wrong, and glad people disagree with me if it means a talent like Sturgill Simpson gets recognized for the musical wizard that he is.
April 20, 2016 @ 1:49 pm
I’m stealing the last line of your comment and copyrighting it. “Sturgill Simpson, Country Music Wizard”. He’s not the damn savior, he’s above that shit. He’s transcendent.
He’s a wizard.
April 20, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
This release was going to have mass appeal no matter where he went with it, and I can’t help but think that if Simpson released something that was closer to metamodern in sound, it would have been even bigger. After metamodern (best country album of the 2000s, imho), people were going to buy regardless.This spike in sales is more of a testament to the ridiculously high quality of his first two albums rather than that of “sailor’s guide.” I think this album is shit, but the publicity is well deserved.
April 20, 2016 @ 2:27 pm
YES!!!!!!!!!! that will be great news. We all need to breathe good country in the air again. We need to get rid of pollution in our country music.
April 20, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
just listening for the first time.
This man sure knows how to arrange a tune. Specially for the guitars/steel guitars/bass/drums. He really got a lot out of the players.
The arrangements actually “soar” in some places.
It’s a wonderful gift to his son and wife.
April 20, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
Well it’s 4/20 and Its official SGTE may not be a country record but it’s a decent head record
April 20, 2016 @ 7:04 pm
I know a lot of people are saying it’s not country — but his voice definitely is. It’s not like he went pop, but rather went further out musically. I’m thoroughly impressed with his latest album. Is it Metamodern Sounds in Country Music? No. It’s hard to compare the two. I have a lot of respect for a guy that makes a living sharing his passion for his love of music, not passion of making money off juvenile stereotypical high school pool party bro-country lyrics.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
Hey Trigger:
Change of subject I’ve just read on cmt.com that Florida Georgia Line will collaborate with Tim McGraw on their next cd the song will sound like somewhere between “Dirt” to “Round Here”.
April 20, 2016 @ 8:34 pm
I saw that. We’ll just have to wait until we can hear it before we get too excited. All kinds of artists are talking about the “depth” of their new music. And then when you hear it, it sounds just as bad as their other stuff.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:16 pm
Really happy about this. Bought it on Vinyl with a CD included. Been on replay in the truck. Really damn happy for Sturgill. First saw him open for Dwight at the Surf Ballroom and was able to buy his band a drink (Not Sturgill). No clue who he was, just letting him know I dug his sound and have been hooked ever since. He just makes beautiful music that is enjoyable to listen to. I love it man. I love it.
April 20, 2016 @ 9:33 pm
Dear Trigger:
I found an independent country artist from Phoenix that I discovered when I went there in 2005-07 and he is still going strong and his name is Harry Luge Band. He is good and he his country that he could give Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson a good competition. He is on youtube if you want to listen I have 2 cd’s of his and they are good there are no bad songs on those.
April 20, 2016 @ 10:05 pm
Thanks for the heads up Pete, I’ll check it out.
April 21, 2016 @ 1:19 am
They grow up so fast
April 21, 2016 @ 5:34 am
FWIW, sitting #1 on iTunes all genres. What I find interesting is on the Country charts (albums purchased, not streamed) Metamodern is back at #10. Coattails from ASGTE?
April 21, 2016 @ 6:09 am
Sturgill killed it last night on the Daily Show. I imagine that appearance will boost sales a bit.
April 21, 2016 @ 11:53 am
Sturgill played a live set of the album the other night, and man was it a soulful performance. And really made me appreciate the widespread use of the horns, which I probably wouldn’t care as much for had it not assumed the particular form it did (as a concept piece).
His earlier covers of Otis Redding sorta hinted at some of these songs. There are also some lyrical points that recalled, for me, Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” or Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son”.
These words are not quite verbatim, but at one point he said: “Next time I pour my heart out and tell my life story on an album I have to remember I gotta go out and sing that shit in public.”
Really fantastic news. I’m on the Sturgill train wherever it rides.
April 21, 2016 @ 12:32 pm
They are suppose to be streaming a live performance of the whole album tomorrow:
http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2016/04/sturgill-simpson-turns-apogee-studios-into-a-funky-psychedelic-honkytonk/
April 21, 2016 @ 12:52 pm
Thank you!
April 22, 2016 @ 2:08 pm
They have archived video and audio of the performance on KCRW’s site now.
http://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/morning-becomes-eclectic/sturgill-simpson
April 21, 2016 @ 3:40 pm
Looks like Prince could kibbosh the whole deal?
At least on iTunes, Prince now has the top 4 spots, knocking Sturgill out of #1.
April 21, 2016 @ 4:29 pm
The Prince buyers would only affect next week’s tabulations. The charts work a week behind.
I expect Prince to sell a ton of records, because his music is only available for streaming on Tidal, which is not very prevalent, and his people heavily police YouTube. So you’re going to have a ton of Apple folks buying Price records for download, because that’s the only way you’re going to be able to listen to the music and remember.
Right now the biggest threat is a late week push by Sanatana. But Sturgill is still about 8,000 albums ahead. And Rihanna, who could knock him out due to streaming data, especially since she just released a new video. It’s going to be close.
April 21, 2016 @ 5:16 pm
Isn’t the Billboard album tracking week Friday-Thursday now? That would mean today is the final day and with the numbers so low nowadays it doesn’t take much for these deceased artists to zoom to the top.
April 21, 2016 @ 5:25 pm
Yeah, I mean I guess there could be one Prince album that might sell more than 45,000 copies between when he passed away late morning and when they cut it off today. We didn’t see that with Bowie, but that’s because people could go to Spotify and stream his music. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the numbers shake out.
April 21, 2016 @ 5:29 pm
Yep it might be too much for one day but that lack of widely available streaming will make the album or song download how the impact will be felt and the first day is when the biggest impact will be.
April 22, 2016 @ 12:35 pm
Billboard is reporting that Prince will have most likely the top two spots on the new Billboard 200 with the ‘Very Best Of Prince’ coming in at around 150,000 equivalents. So it looks like Sturgill will not get a #1 album this time around.
April 22, 2016 @ 9:02 am
If you listen to Sturgill’s KCRW album show that was posted today, he says “it’s kind of a pause but there will be more country records” referring to his new record. Read into that what you want.
April 22, 2016 @ 11:19 am
All I have to say, is the KCRW show is fucking awesome!
The music, the interview, everything is a treat.
Sturgill is going to have a very very good year.
I hope he expands the tour.
April 22, 2016 @ 1:21 pm
This may be one of those things that’s better left unsaid, but I have to be honest and say I’m a little disappointed that Sturgill isn’t gonna go #1 on the Billboard charts. I think that could have been a big deal for him and his career. Maybe next time.
Of course, I mean no disrespect whatsoever to Prince – I realize his passing is a momentous event for the entire music community.
I assume Sturgill will still go #1 on the country album charts, which will be a cool thing in and of itself. I honestly don’t think the chart bosses will have the nerve to pull a “Green River Ordinance” type move on him.
April 22, 2016 @ 1:48 pm
Just to clarify, obviously the ideal scenario would be that Prince were still alive and could continue to make music for many years to come.
Also, it is possible that Sturgill would have lost the #1 spot to Rihanna anyway.
April 22, 2016 @ 10:40 pm
I’ll just leave this here. I’ve said for a while that purple rain would make a great country song if done by the right artist, and that the guitar solo in that song sounds like it was made for pedal steel. I know a number of country artists have performed that song, but I don’t think any of them have done it very well.
I came across this, in a roundabout way, on twitter today.
“Purple Rain always reminded me of Jimi Hendrix singing country music – take all the effects off, and it’s a country and western song”
~ George Clinton
Not that Clinton is a CW expert, but he did have a CW song on his first Funkadelic album, featuring Paul Franklin on steel guitar. In any case, I’m happy to say that George Clinton agrees with me 😀
April 23, 2016 @ 8:01 pm
Hey, did you see this version?
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-old-crow-medicine-shows-fiddle-heavy-prince-tribute-20160422
No steel guitar as far as I can see, but you it does have a fiddle!
By the way, interesting quote. George Clinton is one sharp cat.
April 23, 2016 @ 5:55 pm
From my comment on No Depression: As I follower of Sturgill Simpson since he accepted my invitation in 2011 to play my Nashville show (as Sunday Valley), I have a slightly different take on his latest than most of what I’ve read. Genre? Whatever genre “radio” decides is appropriate, Sturgill’s voice will always be country, and that’s critical in defining country music. More importantly, I feel that A Sailor’s Guide is a major effort in the evolution of this important artist, and I’m glad to see the “masses” seem to be agreeing. After just a couple listens to the whole creation (it requires and demands a full listen, not in pieces), while perhaps not yet putting it in the same stratospheric class, A Sailor’s Guide, I believe, is in line with Pet Sounds, Love’s Forever Changes, even Tommy and many other albums that attempt to capture an entire world (as Faulkner once attempted in a single paragraph). I applaud Sturgill’s artistic ambition. Within the country genre, I’m reminded of Mickey Newbury’s brilliant magnum opus Heaven Help the Child. Newbury has been “accused” of being saccharine at times, mainly for his ponderous layering of strings, but believe me, the work beneath cuts to the bone. I feel the same about A Sailor’s Guide. And anyone who has not had a child, especially later in life than average, especially with demands that keep him from home, has absolutely no right to call any work that addresses the resultant relationship “sentimental.” Perhaps the abundance of horn section, etc., was Sturgill’s way of “hiding” that sentimentality, if that’s what it is. No reason to hide. A Sailor’s Life has freed its author from the confines of being the “savior” of country music, and more importantly from being captured in any one genre. This is a major work in this reviewer’s opinion. How major remains to be seen. Pet Sounds and Forever Changes were not so recognized upon their release, indeed they sold poorly. It’s likely that A Sailor’s Guide, out about a week now, has already surpassed the nearly half-century-old Forever Changes, imo the greatest album of all time. I consider A Sailor’s Guide to be a culmination (no way is the author going to agree) of what Sturgill’s been trying to accomplish, artistically, in gradual steps; I find it leaps and bounds ahead of his previous two releases in that regard. Perhaps the feelings behind the theme have allowed for that. The horns, which many find out of place (and which I find delightful, especially as I’m dedicating the ninth annual Gram Parsons InterNational Nashville in part to Muscle Shoals), take me back to the first listen of “Shotgun Willie.” What? Horns? In such abundance in an otherwise straightforward country album? Damn straight. Willie escaped RCA Nashville and while we know all about Austin, the critical mass of that revolution involved New York, Ahmet Ertegun and Atlantic Records. What had been exorcised in Nashville was now desirable, almost in the contract, and the power it added to country music was immediate. And together with the aforementioned, A Sailor’s Guide calls forth Willie’s brilliant Phases & Stages, as well as Red Headed Stranger in regard to its using “all the groves” to fully realize its tale. I may have more to say about the individual songs, the interior story lines, but just wanted to express the foregoing for now. Nice job Mr. Simpson.