Austin Sound

What Was, the EP side project of Dan Grissom from some say Leland (ssL) is both a maiden voyage of Grissom’s solo work and an offering of subtle charm and perfectly human imperfections. By the third listen through the 20 minute album, on the second song, yours truly actually cried. In a time and in a society where hate turns the quick buck, What Was captures a grace that is both delicate and luminescent. Is it perfect? No. Completed in two days as a means to obtain gas money while on tour, there’s only so much one can expect. But, do the imperfections matter? Not in the slightest. To the contrary, they add to its magic and make it the best $10 I’ve spent all year.

If ever there was any doubt about the origin of the intimacy, harmonic roots, and floral humor found in ssL, they have been answered by this EP. Tracks like “lazy fluorescence” rely primarily on basic folk instrumentation and Grissom’s contemplative boy-next-door voice. The result is a general theme of almost painfully simple lyrical poetry opened up and revealed under his care.