Sturgill Simpson has surprise-released a new double album, Cuttin’ Grass Vol 1 – The Butcher Shoppe Sessions. As the title implies, it's a bluegrass record and he made it at Nashville's famed Butcher Shoppe studios with ace session players ("bona fide wizards"), reworking 20 songs from throughout his catalog. (Nothing from last year's rock-leaning Sound & Fury, though.)
He came up with the idea while he was recovering from coronavirus earlier this year and calls it "a mixtape for the fans." “I had it in my mind for a long time that someday I want to cut as many of these songs as possible in this fashion, just organic and stripped down to the raw bones of the composition," Sturgill says. "If you can’t sit down and play a song like that, it’s probably a pretty shitty song.”
The record includes versions of "Turtles All the Way Down," "Life Ain’t Fair and The World Is Mean," "Long White Line," "Life of Sin," and more. Listen below.
Sturgill's friend and tourmate Tyler Childers released a surprise bluegrass album this year too.
Cuttin’ Grass Vol 1 – The Butcher Shoppe Sessions tracklist: 1. All Around You 2. All The Pretty Colors 3. Breaker’s 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 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
PLAYERS Vocals, Rhythm Guitar: Sturgill Simpson Mandolin, Vocals: Sierra Hull Bass: Mike Bub Fiddle, Vocals: Stuart Duncan Banjo, Vocals: Scott Vestal Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Vocals: Tim O’Brien Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Vocals: Mark Howard Percussion, Vocals: Miles Miller
