Sturgill Simpson: Cuttin' Grass

Cuttin' Grass - Sturgill Simpson: A Return to Roots on Blue Vinyl

Sturgill Simpson remains one of music's most distinctive voices. Long snubbed by the Country Music Association, Simpson has had the last laugh through his continuous artistic evolution and growing respect among his peers. With "Cuttin' Grass," Simpson circles back to his bluegrass origins, reimagining songs from his previous albums. These bluegrass interpretations stand shoulder-to-shoulder with—and in some cases surpass—their original studio versions.

The subscription service Vinyl Me, Please included "Cuttin' Grass" in their Exclusive series, pressing it on blue vinyl with a stated limitation of 2,500 copies (a claim that appears somewhat dubious). As with most VMP offerings, the primary distinction between their release and the standard edition is merely the colored vinyl. Beyond this cosmetic difference, everything else remains identical—same mastering, same lacquer cutting, and same Polish pressing plant.

The Vinyl Verdict
This pressing delivers a decidedly average experience, falling right in line with typical mass-market releases. The vinyl suffers from persistent surface noise, with occasional distortion marring the listening experience. While not outright poor, the sound quality will hardly impress discerning listeners.

The most noteworthy aspects of this release are the packaging and the eye-catching blue vinyl—neither of which enhance the actual listening experience. Considering the premium price point, buyers would be better served by the standard non-club editions, which offer comparable audio quality without the collectible markup. 💵

💰 Invest
💵 Consider
💸 Pass