Sturgill Simpson + Anderson East

Sturgill Simpson has all the makings of a typical country singer: small-Southern-town upbringing, past battles with alcohol and a proud working-class attitude. But he and his latest disc, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, are anything but typical. Simpson’s half-classic-country, half-psychedelic sound proves a welcome change to today’s barrage of pop-country, coming off a little like a lost ’70s-era Willie Nelson–Beatles collaboration. Kicking things off is Nashville newcomer Anderson East.