Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 2 (Cowboy Arms Sessions)

Sturgill Simpson returns to his bluegrass roots on *Cuttin\' Grass, Vol. 2*, the second installment in a series of surprise LPs that reimagines Simpson\'s best-loved songs as barn-burning string band numbers. Simpson once again tapped producer David Ferguson to helm the album, which features many of the same players who contributed to *Vol. 1*. Christened the Hillbilly Avengers, the stacked band comprises Sierra Hull on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Scott Vestal on banjo, Tim O’Brien on guitar, Mark Howard on guitar, and Miles Miller on percussion. *Vol. 2* mines material from his previous solo albums, and includes two songs (\"Tennessee,\" \"Jesus Boogie\") from his work with the band Sunday Valley and one, “Hobo Cartoon,” that Simpson wrote with Merle Haggard.

2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions is cut from the same cloth as its predecessor -- it is largely devoted to Sturgill Simpson revisiting his catalog, reinterpreting his songs as straight bluegrass -- yet it is a distinct album in its own right.