Reading between the lines of Sturgill Simpson's story and listening to the hard country sound of his steaming debut, it's clear that this Kentucky singer-songwriter hasn't had it easy. The album's opening dose of hard-bitten reality , Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean , depicts a career blighted by empty promises. Simpson isn't the first and he won't be the last to discover this side of Nashville, but he infuses his righteous indignation with a slew of uncompromising songs that draw unapologetically from his working class upbringing and a jaundiced view of his lot. Simpson is a traditionalist – no country crossover here – and employs legends such as pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins to help him strike the right tone on You Can Have the Crown, Sitting Here Without You and Old King Coal . Catch Simpson with Laura Cantrell in Whelan's, Dublin next Tuesday. sturgillsimpson.com
Download: You Can Have the Crown, Old King Coal