| | Full Review | Ratings (357) |
Give your Rating |
| 3.5 great | TheManMachine | July 23rd 16 |
Much of the material between the album-welcoming luscious+heartfelt strings-turned-swagger world-welcoming for his beloved pre-bullfrog progeny and the so damn real frantic fuck-the-bullshit finale can feel a bit deficient comparably -- be it the hints of hokey during "as I say" life lectures or simply a propensity for more mid-range temperaments. But his tender+softened hits as hard as/if not harder than his rowdy rocker struttin', world-travel soldier-spins have him reminiscing bout "king cobras fighting in boxing rings" and playing Goldeneye high "on that old 64" but reckoning that it's all a ploy/we're all screwed/fucking off beats participating in war anyway, and when a cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom" creeps in for the centerpiece an eye don't bat -- a selection Simpson apparently hoped to be a "very beautiful and pure homage to Kurt". And yes, mission accomplished.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.9 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | October 10th 23 |
Although Simpson's preceding record Metamodern Sounds advertised itself as being, well, metamodern, A Sailor's Guide to Earth is way more adventurous when it comes to spice its country up with some other genres (psych and soul being the most prominent). It makes for a diversified record that constantly stays interesting by sailing across different spiritual states.
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| 4.5 superb | mrpotatochap | April 5th 20 |
Best Songs: Breakers Roar, Brace For Impact (Live A Little), Welcome To Earth (Pollywog), All Around You
Worst Songs: none
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| 3.5 great | cjbizzlebizzle | January 24th 17 |
A Sailor's Guide to Earth is rooted in Country but oh is it so much more than that. Simpson's country style invokes elements of funk, rock and soul and this blending is central to the album's success. Much of the content seems reflective of Sturgill's own life experiences as the album serves as messages written to his newborn as some sort of guide to learn from his father's past. This approach proves effective as the listener is brought onto a very personal level with Simpson. Just as the lyrics are strong, Simpson's actual vocals are on point throughout and he captures a wide range of moods from a very somber Breaker's Roar to the outlaw yells in Call to Arms. While much of the pop country on the radio is mostly concerned with trucks and tailgating, Sturgill Simpson delivers a highly artistic, beautiful record that delivers a very lively approach to the genre.
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| 4.0 excellent | dihstyle69 | April 27th 16 |
easily the best country album i heard since "casualties of cool", even though this one is way more straight forward and, sonically, more country-focused. the lyrics are absolute gold. 4-
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| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | April 22nd 16 |
It's not an unused comparison: the sea is reflective of life. The constant motion, the secrets held within, and the vast unknown of the sea parallels the constant motion of life, the secrets people hold, and the vast unknown of what their future is. Sturgill Simpson knows this comparison all too well. Through a jazzy, insatiably fun take on country, Simpson shows his knowledge of the waters to those who may not know (namely, his son) and expresses desire to learn even more for himself. Opener "Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)" is a piano-driven, heartfelt track that makes excellent use of violin and a jazzy, bluesy transition near the middle. This sets the tone of the album both musically and topically, as the album is formatted like a letter to his young boy and wife. His experiences in the Navy are definitely drawn upon here as well, and this new, upbeat sound he incorporates is in stark contrast to the dark outlaw country of his first two records. That said, the transition is almost flawless, as Simpson sounds like he's in his element regardless. In all, it's another great album from one of the most forward-thinking men in country music today.
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| 4.0 excellent | Nrap | April 9th 16 |
Its pretty good. Whole album is streaming on NPR.
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| 5.0 classic | theBonerKing | March 4th 16 |
I'm calling it right now, this will by my AOTY.
Update: Yep, this slays.
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| 4.5 superb | Bard0 | April 16th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | doofy | January 9th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | s0nicx | November 17th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | JK1993 | August 23rd 23 |
| 4.5 superb | kral | June 12th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | April 15th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | kodama | April 7th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Timmy | January 18th 23 |
| 3.5 great | altmjw | October 8th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | June 16th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Oatus | May 18th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | sncold | February 10th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | kevbogz | November 29th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Skiiddz | September 28th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | September 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Oobaloo | September 11th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale STAFF | August 18th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Ryus | July 21st 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | kleggi | June 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Brabiz | April 14th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Luna | April 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | AltJawga | November 23rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | CWE | October 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | thawey | October 14th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Sowing STAFF | May 10th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lucman | April 26th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Wolfe | April 24th 20 |
| 3.5 great | natef | January 15th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | alamo | January 7th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | pannini | October 11th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | eggs712 | September 30th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | H2okot | September 30th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | ian b | September 27th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | March 31st 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Jimmy | March 8th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Mathias STAFF | December 21st 18 |
| 3.0 good | Grzka | December 6th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Eken | August 14th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Kantala | November 23rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | August 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | nolanzz | April 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Martvyk | March 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | doqtor | March 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ziroth | February 28th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Corney | February 22nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ian b. | February 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | pkrhawk7 | February 16th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Ebola | February 13th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | chowa4 | February 4th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | gilly | January 31st 17 |
| 2.5 average | Hyndez | January 31st 17 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | January 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Handers | January 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | blocka | January 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | em17ah | January 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | A.R.O. STAFF | December 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | cm7com | December 6th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | HugoG | December 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | JWT155 | November 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fuff24 | November 11th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | P0nto | October 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Brandon | October 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | pepa | October 10th 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | September 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | August 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | p4p | July 13th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Jade | July 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Robbit | July 7th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | oli89 | June 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ckssr1 | June 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mojito | May 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | SB129 | May 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | LOE | May 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Greatr | May 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | jsaf7 | April 26th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | ellagos | April 20th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | April 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | xBAMx | April 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | April 15th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Runeii | April 15th 16 |
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