Sisyphus
First City Artists, 2025
9/10
The Kansas artist Jared Dustin Griffin brings his guitar and harmonica to these 10 folk influenced songs that welcome some friends to the occasion.
“I Am The Calvary” opens the listen with warm guitar and Griffin’s gruff pipes alongside Fergal Scahill’s flowing fiddle, and “Shovel” follows with a charming beauty via the dreamy harmonies thanks to Heather Little.
“Bag Of Bones” and “Howl At The Moon” land in the middle. The former recruits graceful keys amid Griffin’s poetically raw pipes, while the latter is a fuller moment with an infectious energy thanks to Derrick Phillips’ thumping drums and Frank Swart’s animated bass.
Landing close to the end, “Puncher’s Chance” enlists Scahill’s pretty mandolin that complements the heartfelt vocal harmonies, and “Opal” exits with the bare climate allowing for Griffin’s gravely voice to mesmerize us.
This is Griffin’s sophomore album, and a Tom Waits comparison won’t be hard to spot, as he pens a rugged yet vulnerable Americana listen that’s authentic and timeless.
Travels well with: Zack Keim- Battery Lane; Jackson Scribner- Depression Kids