A New Old Thing – Sturgill Simpson’s “The Ballad of Dood and Juanita”

 

A few months ago I wrote a post venting my spleen about the artistic wasteland that is Today’s Hot New Country Music.

In that post, I mentioned a musician who, I believe, is helping to save good country music: Sturgill Simpson.  I write here to offer further evidence of that, and to let any fans of traditional country music know about Sturgill’s latest strange and wonderful record, a concept album called “The Ballad of Dood and Juanita.”

Sturgill Simpson

I say it’s strange not because it features obscure instruments or odd arrangements or foreign influences or anything like that.  Rather, it’s strange because it features the kind of traditional country/folk music that no one makes anymore.  From the opening prologue, which sounds like the chorus in Disney’s Davy Crockett movie, the songs go on to tell an old-timey Kentucky mountain story, like a tall tale mixed with a Louis L’Amour novella.

The styles of the songs vary but are all in the traditional mountain/country/folk vein – from the style of the afore-mentioned prologue (and matching epilogue), to traditional fast-playing high-lonesome bluegrass numbers, to soft ballads, to gospel-style hymns, a capella, and so on.  A couple of them sound like acoustic bluegrass versions of some old Waylon Jennings songs – tales of baddassery with lines like the one describing Ol’ Dood, the main character: “finding food, and finding trouble, and always taking heed / And any man that crossed him was surely gonna bleed.”

When I first listened, I kept wondering if there was going to be some kind of joke in it, some wink of the eye from Sturgill that he wasn’t fully serious about this.  The whole thing seemed so out of place in our time.  But that never came.  In fact, the more I listened the more apparent it became that that not only is Sturgill serious about making this kind of music, but he was also putting in a tremendous effort to make the songs as beautiful as they can be.

The musicians are absolutely top-notch and tight.  Even Willie Nelson appears on the song “Juanita” with his unmistakable guitar picking style.  Sturgill’s deep voice is one of the best country voices out there.  I would say that it’s a shame that it took until his mid 30’s, having done a stint in the Navy and worked on a railroad out west, for him to get serious about a singing career.  But it could well be that those other life experiences contribute to his maturity, and his independence, today.

If you’re familiar with these old country styles, you may have only heard them as they were recorded decades ago.  They always sound thin and fuzzy, and tinny.  They’re light and airy.  But on this album, with modern recording and sound technology, these songs pack a sonic punch, probably much closer to way those old songs sounded live.  They’re clear, heavy, and thick, with a deep base.  I’ll link to the Youtube version of the album below.  But to get that full effect, I recommend you download it and listen to it on your best-sounding speakers.

These songs will never make to the radio.  At least not mainstream radio.  I have no illusions about that.  But how refreshing it is to have a successful country artist, a Grammy winning country artist, unabashedly reach back into those traditional roots, those peculiarly American folk roots,  and make an album that celebrates them all by making them sound so good.

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There are 10 comments.

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  1. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    He had me with the dog on the cover artwork. Now on to the music…

    • #1
  2. Rōnin Coolidge
    Rōnin
    @Ronin

    I like it.  It’s kind of in the same vain as Willie Nelson’s “Red Headed Stranger.” 

    • #2
  3. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I have “Metamodern  Sounds” but had kind of forgotten about him.  Will check this out.  He reminds me of Merle— not necessarily “sounds like,” but he just does.  That’s a good thing.

    • #3
  4. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    He’s the real deal.

    • #4
  5. D.A. Venters Inactive
    D.A. Venters
    @DAVenters

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I have “Metamodern Sounds” but had kind of forgotten about him. Will check this out. He reminds me of Merle— not necessarily “sounds like,” but he just does. That ‘ a good thing.

    I like “Metamodern Sounds” too. I love the song “Turtles All the Way Down” despite my disagreement with the theme. And his cover of that ‘80’s pop song, “The Promise” is fantastic. I never really cared for the original. I didn’t even recognize it till the chorus of “I’m sorry but I’m just thinking of the right words to say. I know they don’t sound the way I planned them to be…” It’s surprisingly great as a slowed down country song. 

    • #5
  6. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    His “A Sailor’s Guide to the Earth” album, written for his newborn son, is also a thematic record, and it’s a mighty listen.

    • #6
  7. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    My favorite Sturgill Simpson song back when he still had incredible guitarist Lair Joamets in the band.

    • #7
  8. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):

    My favorite Sturgill Simpson song back when he still had incredible guitarist Lair Joamets in the band.

    Great tune.  He’s with Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ now.

    • #8
  9. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    Yes! He has made some incredible music. You might also enjoy Shane Smith & The Saints. Their Geronimo album is fantastic. 

    • #9
  10. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    D.A. Venters (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I have “Metamodern Sounds” but had kind of forgotten about him. Will check this out. He reminds me of Merle— not necessarily “sounds like,” but he just does. That ‘ a good thing.

    I like “Metamodern Sounds” too. I love the song “Turtles All the Way Down” despite my disagreement with the theme. And his cover of that ‘80’s pop song, “The Promise” is fantastic. I never really cared for the original. I didn’t even recognize it till the chorus of “I’m sorry but I’m just thinking of the right words to say. I know they don’t sound the way I planned them to be…” It’s surprisingly great as a slowed down country song.

    His version of The Promise is better than the original by several orders of magnitude. Just incredible.

    • #10
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