Sturgill Simpson surprised fans with the release of his newest album, Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 last Friday. It's full of new versions of his previously released songs, and was a great return to his original style.
The album returns to Simpson's Kentucky roots - Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 features 20 bluegrass renditions of already-released songs from his previous albums. Full of banjo, mandolin, and toe-tapping bass motifs mirroring the old-time bluegrass of Appalachia, this album is contagiously feel-good. Featuring a mix songs from previous albums such as Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, and High Top Mountain containing lyrical themes from a country influence. Full of tight harmonies, raw acoustics, and enticing melodies, Cuttin' Grass will undoubtedly have you tapping your toes.
Simpson recruited a band of bluegrass legends to accompany him - ACMA fiddle of the year winner Stuart Duncan and multi-instrumentalist Sara Hull were just two members of the crew which provided the music for the LP. Simpson recorded the album after recovering from COVID-19 and participating in various charitable projects to benefit The Equity Alliance, the Special Forces Foundation, and MusiCares. Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 is definitely a different sound than his previous release in 2019, Sound and Fury - Simpson continues to bend genres and defy standards. Be sure to check out Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 everywhere now.
Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1: https://open.spotify.com/album/1S6sk9yusYQoadSAbx3ZB8?si=oRUVrBqlSTCtpeWkPKI2ZQ