There are many types of concept albums these days, but Grammy-nominated artist Leslie Jordan has given us deeply personal one with The Agonist. It’s the saga of Robert Gott, the grandfather she never knew – a man who left his family and roamed Jack Kerouac-style for much of his life. Shortly after his death, Jordan’s mother received a box of poems and stories penned by the enigmatic wanderer, which became the inspiration for The Agonist.
One of the album’s highlights is “Elegy”, 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 wouldn’t expect from a lifelong drifter.
“I never knew my grandfather, but I got to know him through his writing and wanted to finish his work somehow,” says Jordan. “And this is the way I know how.”
The Agonist was produced by Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids. “He kept pushing me into being that best version of myself,” adds Jordan.
Listen to “Elegy” below, or find The Agonist in full on streaming services.
