There are many types of concept albums these days, but Grammy-nominated artist Leslie Jordan has given us deeply personal one with The Agonist. Itโs the saga of Robert Gott, the grandfather she never knew โ a man who left his family and roamed Jack Kerouac-style for much of his life. Shortly after his death, Jordanโs mother received a box of poems and stories penned by the enigmatic wanderer, which became the inspiration for The Agonist.
One of the albumโs highlights is โElegyโ, based on a poem written by Gott after his brother died in a car crash. The song reveals that Gott had emotional depth that you wouldnโt expect from a lifelong drifter.
โI never knew my grandfather, but I got to know him through his writing and wanted to finish his work somehow,โ says Jordan. โAnd this is the way I know how.โ
The Agonist was produced by Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids. โHe kept pushing me into being that best version of myself,โ adds Jordan.
Listen to โElegyโ below, or find The Agonist in full on streaming services.
