On the day Griffin Robillard came to Davenport to record a Daytrotter session, the weather was terrible. Icy rain was falling all afternoon, glazing over the roads, and visibility was at a minimum. Driving conditions couldn't have gotten much worse. Despite this, Griffin showed up and played us some songs. The songs themselves were patient and took their time in getting their points across. There is no nervous rush in his music, instead there's a relaxed coolness. His music is a type of folk that brings together aspects of Midwest life and big city life. There are melodic tendencies that veer straight towards John Denver's heart, but lyrical themes that conjure the cool darkness of Nick Cave.The guitars are bright and jangly, while the vocals are wet with reverb. These tonal aspects differ from a lot of folk music, which often comes across warm and insulated, as if you were hearing it played live by the fireside. Acoustic music and folk music have become nearly synonymous, but while a "stripped down" aesthetic comes with both of those, Griffin's songs feel like fully fleshed out ideas.