Album Of The Week: High Top Mountain

Artist: Sturgill Simpson

Producer: Dave Cobb

Favorite Song: You Can Have The Crown

Least Favorite Song: Hero

Rating: 9.5/10

High Top Mountain Cover Art

High Top Mountain was the very first studio album by Sturgill Simpson. It was released all the way back in 2013.

"Sitting Here Without You" and "Some Days" are a pair of upbeat songs that disguise the sad lyrical content. The first is a song about being left and lonley. The second is similar to the opening track, "Life Ain't Fair And The World Is Mean," about being tired of how poorly musicians can be treated and how life is hard.

"The Storm" is a song about love gone wrong as well as "Water In A Well," which is my second favorite song on the album. The hook of "Our love has all dried up, like water in a well" is wonderful. The whole song is absolutely beautiful and Sturgill's writing and delivery sells the heartbreak feeling of the song.

Although "You Can Have The Crown" is the song Sturgill wished he never wrote, it's my favorite song on the album. He stated it was lyrically shallow because he was making fun of the typical Nashville song by using clichés all throughout the song. Once the song became popular he then felt like "King Turd of Sh*t Mountain" that he described in the song.

There are two covers at the end of the album that are very well done. The first is Ralph Stanley's "Poor Rambler" followed by "I'd Have To Be Crazy" originally recorded by Willie Nelson.

The only song I'm not a fan of is "Hero." It doesn't quite move me the way it is intended. The bluegrass version on Cuttin' Grass: Vol. 2 hits me harder and does what the original on High Top Mountain failed to do.

Overall, this was a wonderful album. It was a great introduction to who Sturgill is as a writer and musician. To learn more about Sturgill Simpson, read one of my other articles, Artist Profile: Sturgill Simpson.