Cuttin' Grass Vol 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions

Sturgill Simpson's Cuttin' Grass Vol 2 features the same combination of insightful, often satirically humorous and self-deprecating, songwriting and brilliant ensemble playing that made Vol 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions a standout recording when it was released in October 2020. Following a similar formula, the album's dozen tracks transform the outlaw country songs upon which Simpson built a Grammy-studded career into a thoroughly enjoyable, sharply honed bluegrass bounty.

Two songs, ‘Tennessee’ and ‘Hobo Cartoon’, the latter co-written with the late Merle Haggard, were previously unreleased. Nine were culled from the 2016 album A Sailor's Guide to Earth. One, ‘You Can Have the Crown’, a mocking critique of Nashville's corporatised music machine, was plucked from High Top Mountain, Simpson's 2013 debut. Unsurprisingly, Simpson rewrote a couple of the song's verses to reflect present circumstances: ‘Lord, I finally got out of my record deal/And now these bluegrass tunes is buying all my meals.’ Now collectively branded the Hillbilly Avengers, all of the musicians from Vol 1 – fiddler Stuart Duncan, guitarist Tim O'Brien, banjoist Scott Vestal, mandolinist Sierra Hull, bassist Mike Bub and percussionist Miles Miller – are back in stellar form.