What does a person experience after the death of someone who once guided them into life? Garreson recently faced a profound loss – the passing of his beloved grandfather, Monte Garrison Sr., a once well-known country singer who instilled in his grandson a deep love for music. It’s hardly surprising, then, that the artist named his debut album Monte in honour of his late relative, whom he frequently references in his songs.

Intros can take many forms: from a simple opening melody to a kind of “epigraph” that briefly encapsulates the essence of an entire record. However, Garreson, to underscore the personal significance of the album Monte, begins it with the words of his late grandfather. A short voice message in which his grandfather expresses pride in his grandson and encourages him to pursue his craft seriously, believing in his success. What can one say? The album hasn’t even properly started, and it already brings tears to the eyes.

The opening track, excluding the intro, Like Hell, is the musician’s creative reflection on the bitter feeling of losing a loved one. Yet, the track only partially sustains a dark, melancholic mood. After a full listen, Like Hell oddly leaves a sense of hope. No matter how tough things get, one shouldn’t give up, for happiness is just around the corner. Following the subdued tone set by the opening tracks, the song High introduces a completely different sentiment. Here, Garreson describes how he revels in life itself, as if the winds are carrying him across boundless expanses, soaring high while joyfully singing about it. But don’t think that the sorrow and doubts overwhelming the musician’s heart have suddenly vanished.

In the very next song, Alright Now, we hear lines like: “I’m heavy with doubt, but I won’t turn around now, I won’t back down, baby it’s alright now.” In other words, the pain in Garreson’s heart hasn’t gone away – he’s simply learning to accept it and move forward, encouraging his listeners to do the same. Let It Go musically reminds me of classic country, but what’s unusual for the genre is the phenomenal vocal performance. I’d say that, in terms of execution, Let It Go is Garreson’s finest work to date. Here, he seems to push himself to his limits as a singer, and I can confidently say he’s created something truly magnificent.Is there some kind of connection with our loved ones even after their passing?

The song Swimming tells of a dream in which Garreson saw his grandfather. Surprisingly, the track itself feels incredibly life-affirming, inspiring listeners to keep navigating the vast ocean of life.

Monte’s Interlude is another message from Garreson’s grandfather. Its message can be summed up in a single, concise sentence: always follow your dreams. No matter the circumstances, never give up, because his grandfather believes you can find a way out of even the most difficult situations. To be fair, Garrison Sr. isn’t the only family member who holds a significant place in the musician’s life and this album.

In the song Mother, the artist essentially recounts his deeply complex relationship with his mother. Little is known about the circumstances of the musician’s family life, but here he sings about how his mother wasn’t there for him during the worst times of his life, chasing “the clouds.” Nevertheless, Garreson is ready to forgive her after all these years, however heavy those words may feel.

I wouldn’t separate How You Look At Me and When You’re Not Around, as they feel like a cohesive whole, not only thematically but also musically, as if one song was split into two parts. Speaking of the main theme, Garreson addresses a loved one here, without whose gaze even the sun dims as it sinks below the horizon. I’d venture to guess this is dedicated to a relationship that ended badly, one the musician still can’t forget.

To be honest, Happiness Is Very Close is my favourite track on the album. Garreson departs from his usual country sound: instead of a banjo, we hear a piano, and instead of lyrics about an ex, there’s complex, introspective poetry about battling inner demons. A phenomenal piece that stirs a storm of complex, ambiguous emotions. “I used to be so happy, now I’m just trying to survive.”

Happiness Is Very Close showcases Garreson’s courage to step away from traditional country, experimenting with arrangements and lyrics to create music that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.

And finally, the track Together Forever. A quiet and serene conclusion, without anything grandiose or spectacular, yet it brings the album to a perfect close.

Garreson speaks of family with striking honesty: songs about his grandfather, mother, and loved ones reveal personal stories without embellishment, making listeners feel as though they’re part of the musician’s life. Love and hope weave like a delicate red thread through the entire album.

What can be said in conclusion? Monte touches on themes of love, death, grief, self-acceptance, and complex family relationships, revealed through the immense talent of Garreson Jr. It’s only a pity that his grandfather didn’t live to see this milestone. I’m certain he would have been immensely proud of his grandson.

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