"Kentucky contains multitudes, our people contain multitudes."

November 27, 2017 1:29 PM

"Our music should contain multitudes as well," writes Leesa Cross Smith in an essay about Sturgill Simpson in the Oxford American's 2017 music issue. The annual issue returns to its state-by-state look at some notable music (last year's focus was a departure from that usual format with Visions of the Blues). For 2017, here are the notes on the songs from the 19th Southern Music Issue CD featuring Kentucky.

The issue's cd includes Dave Evans' Be Proud of the Grey in Your Hair. Evans passed away in June.

posted by mandolin conspiracy (15 comments total)

If you like Sturgill (like me), then check out his protege, Tyler Childers. If anything, he's more Kentucky than Sturgill. And I may even like him even more. There's not a weak track on his debut album. It's a crime he wasn't in the collection.
posted by Edgewise at 1:43 PM on November 27, 2017 [3 favorites]

I hadn't heard anything in quite a while from Rachel Grimes, formerly of Rachel's.
posted by larrybob at 2:25 PM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

Sturgil and Rachel Grimes in one post? Be still my heart!
posted by not_the_water at 3:10 PM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

I like Sturgill Simpson. His cover version of the Osborne Brothers' Listening to the Rain is like a country version of Metallica's One.



He also has a song called Turtles All the Way Down which is an alright song with a great title.
posted by The_Vegetables at 3:13 PM on November 27, 2017

CTRL-F : King Kong, Freakwater, Rachel Grimes

(This is a pretty good list)
posted by thivaia at 3:38 PM on November 27, 2017

No Rodan, though.
posted by thivaia at 3:39 PM on November 27, 2017

Also worth checking out - Margo Price and Andrew Combs
posted by askmehow at 7:09 PM on November 27, 2017

Oh, also, I love Sturgill, but he needs to give the novelty covers a rest. He's better than that!
posted by askmehow at 7:09 PM on November 27, 2017

posted by mandolin conspiracy

Eponys... I'll get my coat.
posted by kersplunk at 2:11 AM on November 28, 2017

last year's focus was a departure from that usual format with Visions of the Blues

For me, it had too much "you go girl" blues and not enough "oh God the spiders are still coming" blues
posted by thelonius at 3:08 AM on November 28, 2017

I always look forward to the music issue! This one is my favorite.

Little Milton "Grits Ain't Groceries"
Chris Bell "You and Your Sister"
posted by oakroom at 6:41 AM on November 28, 2017

This one is my favorite.

That may be one of the ones I don't have.
posted by thelonius at 8:07 AM on November 28, 2017

Is there a way to order their CDs other than picking up used copies off Discogs? Because damn, I want that blues disc.
posted by Ber at 8:40 AM on November 28, 2017

Because damn, I want that blues disc.

$16 here, your choice of three covers.
posted by oakroom at 9:40 AM on November 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

No Rodan, though.

No Drew Daniel of Matmos and The Soft Pink Truth, either, but he left Louisville a long time ago. Recent interview by hometown publication.
posted by larrybob at 11:55 AM on November 28, 2017