REVIEW: Jared Dustin Griffin "The Perseverance of Sisyphus" • Americana Highways

Jared Dustin Griffin may have spent the past 20 years traveling, but his newest album is one that stops you in your tracks. From the opening song, “I Am the Cavalry” to the last, “Opal,” The Perseverance of Sisyphus sustains attention through to the end. As the album title aptly conjures, this collection of songs is very much about the boulder, not the reward, not the end, but about the stone itself and all that it represents. It’s a hauntingly beautiful work reflective of 20 years of songwriting and the perils and joys of the journey.

Jared has a gravelly raspy baritone voice. It’s some parts dust and some parts rust – an old wind, made up of memories of moments long since gone. The sincerity in the vocals lends weight to his experience and fills the space with strength found in struggle. The songs could be about the present, but they sound from the porch of the past. Though the songs are reflections on his own life, the familiarity found in the strain in his voice make the stories relatable and resonant.

Mr. Griffin has created a unique and special sound spanning ten tracks. He wrote all 10 songs and plays guitar and harmonica throughout. The background vocals and harmonies are sung by Heather Little, a perfect complement to Jared’s voice. Throughout the album we hear the fiddle and mandolin as played by Fegal Scahill. The keys are played by Nathan Alef, the organ and additional keys are performed by Matt Greco. Dave Campbell plays the banjo on numerous tracks. The rhythm section is held down throughout the album by bass player Frank Swart and drummer Derrick Phillips. The album was produced by Jared Dustin Griffin and Brian Brinkerhoff, mixed by Scott Halliday, and mastered by Justin Weis. The original artwork for the album was done by the exceptionally talented Alexis LaBoube who crafted an image that perfectly encapsulates the textures of the Sisyphean musical feat.

Jared has dirt in his voice. It’s not an effect or affect. It’s something a singer, blessed with it since birth, has to harness and write along side of, bearing in mind the weight it carries. The struggles in the songs become evocative strains and his voice amplifies the stretch of his soul as he comes to terms with life being a sequence of burdens that are never-endingly rolled uphill.

He begins the journey with a quickly strummed, “I am the Calvary.” The fiddle is a sunrise hiding behind empty space before it jumps back in mid verse. The song returns and the fiddle slow drawn joins in harmony with Ms. Little’s voice in the chorus. The song ends upbeat and sets the stage for the remainder of the song. despite the burden, there is a hopeful optimism tucked behind the verses and instrumentation.

Another upbeat song complementing his voice is the third track, “Turn Me Loose.” The square dance fiddle and two step sound truly bring you out of your seat. You can’t help but dance and move around when you hear it. With such a gravel tinged voice, hearing him perform upbeat songs complement the range and versatility of his voice as well as song-crafting abilities. He’s also writing verses he knows he can hit. The song opens him up and keeps the happiness afloat as the upper notes of his range are showcased. This is a great song!

I love a good saloon stomp. “Howl at the Moon” is a saloon song, piano bar frolicking with voice’s joining in and sitting next to the keys. He’s more than a younger Tom Waits. He can stretch his voice and change the ambiance to the happiness in the effort. Even at the end of the evening, this song gets you home safely and with a fun ride back down the hill. The keys are prominent and bang the chords with the chorus in tight harmony.

The highlight song for its depth and introspection is “Shook.” The quick picking during the verses matched by a slower drawn rosin slipping bow and echoing bass create a haunted sound. It’s sounds like a sound coming to terms with deep trauma and choosing to shake good back into the grit of life. There is something beautiful about it, like understanding and sharing a common pain that is only ended with the punctuation of quickly versed upbeat vocals forming an abrupt shaking up of what a lamentation standardly sounds like. “Annely’s Lament” follows and jogs the soundtrack as the boulder of sad songs was perilously close to crushing down the album. With “Puncher’s Chance,” and “Opal,” the final songs turn into the more perceptibly personal as his main character continues to push that stone up the hill.

After the first listen, the album was impressive and the songs held together as a whole. The overall track ordering worked with the dynamic and tempo of the album, keeping it dynamic, turning criticism into a lullaby. The concept of Sisyphus and the struggle being the point and place of joy – was wrapped within the lyrics and recognizable as a leit motif, without ever forcing the connection. This is a must hear and a fantastic sophomore album by Jared Dustin Griffin – give it a listen!

This album will be available on all streaming platforms beginning September 26. For more information check out Jared’s website https://jareddustingriffin.com

Song Premiere: Jared Dustin Griffin “Howl at the Moon”

Tracklisting