Sturgill Simpson has announced that his highly anticipated new album, A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, will be released April 15 by Atlantic Records. The record will feature eight original songs as well as a rendition of Nirvana’s “In Bloom.”
The first single, “Brace For Impact (Live A Little),” is premiering today and can be heard at Simpson’s official website. The uplifting anthem is the embodiment of “a little bit country, little bit rock and roll,” with a psychedelic riff that steadily picks up speed throughout the track to keep listeners satisfied. Simpson will be sticking to his roots on the new album, while also showing off the full range of his musical tastes. Rolling Stone states that A Sailor’s Guide to Earth “mixes his countrified bark with Motown horns, Sly Stone-worthy funk, Walt Disney strings and Seventies classic rock.”
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth was produced by Simpson and was written—beginning to end—as a letter to his first child that arrived in the summer of 2014. Recorded mainly in Nashville, Simpson was joined in the studio by Grammy Award-winning engineer David Ferguson (Johnny Cash, “Cowboy” Jack Clement) and assistant engineer Sean Sullivan. In addition to members of his touring band, the album features Dave Roe on bass, Dan Dugmore on steel guitar, Dougie Wilkinson on bagpipes, Garo Yellin and Arthur Cook on cello, Jonathan Dinklage and Whitney LaGrange on violin and special guests The Dap-Kings.
The new album is the follow-up to Simpson’s critically acclaimed 2014 release, Metamodern Sounds In Country Music. The record was nominated for a Grammy and beloved by critics and fans alike, earning a place on year-end “best of” lists at publications such as The New York Times, Washington Post, and Rolling Stone.
In honor of the new release, Simpson and his band will embark on their 2016 tour this spring, including shows in Austin, Oklahoma City, Chattanooga, Milwaukee and more. Tickets go on-sale next Friday, March 11 and additional dates will be announced. Simpson will also make appearances at the Roskilde and Latitude festivals taking place in July.
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth is currently available for pre-order on iTunes and includes an instant download of the first single, “Brace For Impact (Live A Little).” Buy tickets for his upcoming tour at Ticketmaster.
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth Track-Listing:
01. Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)
02. Breakers Roar
03. Keep It Between The Lines
04. Sea Stories
05. In Bloom
06. Brace For Impact (Live A Little)
07. All Around You
08. Oh Sarah
09. Call To Arms
Sturgill Simpson Tour Dates:
May 5—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater
May 6—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater
May 7—Dallas, TX—The Bomb Factory
May 10—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall
May 11—Oklahoma City, OK—Criterion Theater
May 16—Lexington, KY—Lexington Opera House
May 17—Lexington, KY— Lexington Opera House
May 18—Chattanooga, TN—Tivoli Theater
May 20—Knoxville, TN—Tennessee Theater
May 21—Indianapolis, IN—Egyptian Room – Old National Centre
May 22—Louisville, KY—Louisville Palace
June 2—Royal Oak, MI—Royal Oak Theatre
June 3—Chicago, IL—Riviera Theatre
June 4—Milwaukee, WI—Riverside Theater
June 5—Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue
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