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.

All Around You    
All The Pretty Colors    
Breakers Roar    
I Don't Mind    
I Wonder    
Just Let Go    
Life Ain't Fair And The World Is Mean    
A Little Light    
Life Of Sin    
Long White Line    
Living The Dream    
Old King Coal    
Railroad Of Sin    
Sitting Here Without You    
Sometimes Wine    
The Storm    
Time After All    
Turtles All The Way Down    
Voices    
Water In A Well