Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions

by Sturgill Simpson

Overview

A year after he indulged himself in the metallic prog-blues mock-opera of Sound & Fury, Sturgill Simpson abruptly shifted gears for Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions, a collection of his old tunes performed in a traditional bluegrass style. It's possible that the global pandemic of 2020 influenced Simpson's change in direction, but it's just as likely this was a way to reboot himself creatively after he left the major label Elektra for the indie Thirty Tigers. Either way, Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 benefits greatly from its off-the-cuff approach. Unlike Simpson's previous studio sets, this record isn't built upon a particularly heady concept; it's a straight-up, straightforward bluegrass album, one that follows the contours of the genre affectionately, not rigidly. The love of the form invigorates Simpson, who seems to have a blast running through his songbook, selecting highlights from his previous records while cherry-picking some material from his early outfit Sunday Valley. Once the shock of the album's simplicity wears off, Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 provides plenty of pleasures. The band is nimble and fleet, Simpson sings with gusto, and songs that once seemed a little spacy are brought to earth in a garrulous fashion. Part of Simpson's appeal lies in how he blurs genres, so it's a bit ironic that this single-minded collection is one of his best records, but it is: it's an album where the joy in the music's creation is palpable and infectious. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	12/11/2020
Label:	High Top Mountain
UPC:	0787790456285
Rank:	13432

Tracks

Disc 1

1. All Around You
2. All the Pretty Colors
3. Breakers Roar
4. I Don't Mind
5. I Wonder
6. Just Let Go
7. Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean
8. A Little Light
9. Life of Sin
10. Long White Line

Disc 2

11. Living the Dream
12. Old King Coal
13. Railroad of Sin
14. Sitting Here Without You
15. Sometimes Wine
16. The Storm
17. Time After All
18. Turtles All the Way Down
19. Voices
20. Water in a Well

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sturgill Simpson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Mark Howard   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Tim O'Brien   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Scott Vestal   Banjo,Vocals
Stuart Duncan   Fiddle,Vocals
Sierra Hull   Vocals,Mandolin
Mike Bubb   Bass
Miles Miller   Vocals,Percussion

Technical Credits

Richard Dodd   Mastering
David Ferguson   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Buford Abner   Composer
Sean Sullivan   Mixing,Engineer
Sturgill Simpson   Composer,Producer