There are quite a few examples of the impact and influence of these albums, from the underground to the very top of the mainstream.
High Top Mountain is also Sturgill’s straightforward traditional country record, which curries it even more favor with country listeners. But High Top Mountain and it’s reception is what set the table for Sturgill’s remarkable rise, which in turn set the table for Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, and so on and so forth. In terms of independent country and roots music, this is like lightning striking three times in the same spot, or as uncanny as Dolly Parton writing “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day (yes, that really happened too.) Granted, most would point to Sturgill Simpson’s album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music as his most remarkable work. This is the day that Jason Isbell released his magnum opus Southeastern, Sturgill Simpson released his debut solo album High Top Mountain, and for good measure, John Moreland released what many consider his landmark album as well, In The Throes.
But one good one would be 10 years ago this week, on June 11th, 2013. That doesn’t take away from the fact that we have come much farther than some would have ever fathomed.īut where did it all start? What was independent music’s Big Bang? Is there a moment in time we can point back to when the tide began to turn and the momentum shifted to lead us where we are right now? There are a few different moments and theories that folks could forward for sure. There’s also so much more work to do with certain artists still sliding criminally under the radar. Since the actualization of the country music revolution took 10 years or so to happen, it kind of crept up on us and can be hard to appreciate. This is the reality we now live in thanks to one artist after another building upon what artists before them helped start, and all with an independent spirit and commitment to being self-made and doing it apart from the Music Row and corporate radio system. 10 years ago, we could only dream of our favorite artists securing number one records on the country charts, or minting Gold and Platinum singles and albums, or selling out big theaters and even arenas, and headlining huge festivals that rival mainstream ones in attendance. It’s rather remarkable reflecting back 10 years at just how far independent country, roots music, and Americana have come in finding a seat at the table with their mainstream country counterparts.
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