At this point in time, country music is more closely associated with trucks and sexism than it is to thoughtfulness, yet there are still some exceptions to the rule. Enter Sturgill Simpson. Simpson’s previous album, “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music”, was a smash with critics looking for something a little different than the standard “bro-country” on the radio, and now Simpson is back with his newest album “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.”

Inspired by a letter his grandfather wrote to his grandmother while in the armed forces, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” draws off of many topics, primarily his wife, son and time in the Navy. While such emotional topics might lead to some cheesy moments, Simpson manages to make them fairly touching.

Part of this is due to the music backing all the lyrics. Rather than sticking to a certain country formula, Simpson and his backing band explore various areas of music. This can be heard right at the beginning on opening track “Welcome to Earth (Pollywog).” Starting as a touching ballad for his son that’s more than a little reminiscent of Roy Orbison, the track soon flips into a surging piece of Southern rock.

Oddly enough, the centerpiece of the album is a cover of Nirvana’s “In Bloom.” Where the original seemed to seethe with anger and irony, Simpson turns in a more sincere performance, replacing the original’s distorted guitars with plush strings and a horn section and giving the song an overall sweeter message.

As a whole, the album is pretty good at dodging stereotypes. From having more varied musical styles and instrumentation, to featuring some slightly controversial views (Sturgill is fairly anti-war, a rare sentiment in country music), this album manages to break out of any expectations and get the recognition and respect it deserves.