If there was any question whether or not country music was in the process of purging the crossover glitter-pop and bro-country image that it had rolled into Nashville, Chris Stapleton answers it defiantly. With a broad-shouldered look and a voice to match, Stapleton’s joined a generation of “outlaw country” artists, hell-bent on taking back music row.
Stapleton has always had his hand in the Nashville scene; he’s credited with writing nearly 200 songs for A-list artists like Adele, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and George Straight, as well as fronting Rounder Records’ The Steeldrivers before heading out on his own.
Following the path of Sturgill Simpson, Stapleton caught the attention of Rolling Stone, NPR, Wall Street Journal, and a multitude of others in the media, directly reminding the masses what Willie, Waylon, and Merle had built. His debut album Traveller is coated in the antiqued style that put Nashville on the map. Blended with tracks that merge the southern dance hall scene (“Traveller”) with the Bluebird Café (“Whiskey and You” and “More Of You”) and the honky-tonks (“Parachute” and “Might As Well Get Stoned”), Stapleton’s debut album sets the tone for what should be an immense and historically influential career.
Purchase Traveller here: iTunes
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