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
'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
, 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,
provides plenty of pleasures. The band is nimble and fleet,
sings with gusto, and songs that once seemed a little spacy are brought to earth in a garrulous fashion. Part of
'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