Best Breakout

Considering all the novelty-related buzz that Metamodern Sounds in Country Music has generated this year, you’d think Sturgill Simpson just released his debut album. Really, this is his second, following last year’s self-released High Top Mountain. But it wasn’t until Metamodern that the Kentucky-born songwriter revealed himself to be the fascinating paradox he is: a restlessly intelligent, metaphysically searching, psychedelically influenced downhome country traditionalist. Alien references, trucker songs and trippy tape manipulation — that’s a combo that’ll get people’s attention.

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