Chronicling love, loss, and moving on, Mt. Gribley’s new album, Moss on the Stone, is as relatable as it is easy on the ears. Hitting streaming services December 12th, it serves as a mirror of emptiness surrounded by a sense of longing for your person.
With a minimalist indie folk approach, Mt. Gribley — aka Matt Jarrett — adjusts from his 90’s grunge sound that he’s done in the past. His new stripped down blend is showcased throughout the project, interspersed with thoughtful instrumentation, paralleling the connected stories in the tracks.
Released as a single earlier this year, “Mourning Light” is a track that is heavily focused on its melancholy approach. The melody is uplifting, adding a contrast to its lyricism. There’s a dialogue that is occurring in the song, perhaps a negative self-talk, but one that seems to be needed at the moment.
“Between the Walls” touches on a divide that is happening between two people who care deeply for one another. Jarrett purposely made the connotations of the lyrics vague for the universal feeling that listeners can have when thinking about a connection breaking apart due to a single event or something along those lines.
The title track, “Moss on the Stone,” symbolizes moss as a shadow behind someone. From the lyrics, it’s about how this shadow is missing and most likely gone forever. His mellow acoustic guitar picking and harmonious vocals paired with steel guitar make for a breezy and feel good track.
The emotions in the song are displayed in their fullest on the raw acoustic video. There’s an attention to detail element that the accompanying guitar and piano have to the lyrics, and it serves as a touching cornerstone of the album.
With a personal anecdote, “Superglue” is about a close breaking point that ended up not ending in tragedy. The “going across the pond” in the song covers how Jarrett felt with his wife going off to finish her PhD in the UK while he was in the States working on his music. This thoughtful and nostalgic ode is another notable track from the record.
“Moss on the Stone is about stepping aside to support your family… it’s about temporarily rearranging your life, embracing the messy middle ground where mistakes and successes live side-by-side,” the artist states in regards to the breadth of the record.
Based on his intimate lyricism, Mt. Gribley is very akin to his surroundings and is gifted in how he’s able to put that into song. Moss on the Stone follows the Connecticut songwriter’s previous releases in The Milksop EP and reSemblance, both released in 2022. He can be found performing in the Northeast, and we’ll see what 2026 has in store for the artist known as Mt. Gribley.
