STURGILL SIMPSON is going to change the “haven’t” to “have” in the magazine quote above with the release of his debut album–HIGH TOP MOUNTAIN–out June 11 on his own label, via Thirty Tigers Distribution. Comprised of 12 tracks, 10 of which are composed by Sturgill alone, range from furious honky-tonk to pre-outlaw country-rocking to spellbinding bluegrass pickin’ to emotional balladry, making the album a one-stop guide to everything genuine in country music.
Raised in eastern Kentucky, Sturgill was exposed at an early age to everything from Delta blues to bluegrass to classic country music. HIGH TOP MOUNTAIN certainly evokes the depth of inspiration Sturgill felt listening to songs with his maternal grandfather. “Hero” was written for him. “He’s more responsible than anybody in the world for my very deeply embedded appreciation and love for bluegrass and country music,” says Simpson. “He made sure I heard all the right records. This album is more for him than anybody. If you ask which song on the record hits me the hardest, that’s the one.”
