Sturgill Simpson – High Top Mountain (Coloured vinyl)

High Top Mountain is the debut studio album by Sturgill Simpson, released in June 2013. The self-funded record leans into traditional country and honky tonk influences—with steel guitar, piano and twang—but carries a rawness that feels personal and rooted. Simpson’s vocals convey grit and conviction, singing about coal mining, hardship, and identity with a voice that feels lived in.

Though it wears many influences on its sleeve, High Top Mountain never feels derivative. It balances storytelling with tension and release, offering songs that simmer and others that burn. For many listeners, the album signaled the arrival of an artist unafraid to draw from tradition while pushing quietly against convention.

Reviews

“The album comes across like a throwback … shimmering steel guitar, Bakersfield twang, double time shuffles, battered ballads and gruff insurgence.” — Country Standard Time

“Sturgill Simpson arrives with a strong set of tunes and country-as-they-come credentials.” — The Line of Best Fit

“These 26 good-time … tracks collected here … are gorgeously lyrical soul-jazz nuggets.” — Chris May, All About Jazz