Josh Ritter

Cool, I'll make sure to check it out.

I find his albums usually have 3-5 stunners and a whole lot of stuff that's just OK. But that's not really so bad a batting average.

Yeah I think that's about right. Which at this point gives him a solid 20-30 great tracks. Very much worth seeing live, too, he puts on a good show.

I am not such a fan of Beast in Its Tracks, it felt a little rushed to me -- like, the obligatory divorce album. But some good songs, like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xP6bMNg-HM

New song: http://open.spotify.com/album/1UBBJFhQa6pUpdegxfbo0M

I really, really loved his last album. I think it is just a fantastic record about divorce and has some really honest and complicated lyrics. This song... not so crazy about this one.

Ha, I was just coming to post the new song and say basically the opposite: I love the looseness of this track, I like him in carefree shaggy-dog mode. The last album I thought was kind of a drag (though a drag with some good songs). If the single is indicative, I'll like the album a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnQ89jZvZD0

And I'll say again what I'm sure I've said upthread -- he's one of the best lyricists working in any genre, writerly without overdoing it (usually), ambitious and funny and smart. He tries things that nobody else would think of, and pulls them off.

I'll still check out the album and is certainly welcome a return to the upbeat Historical Conquests sound. But the single gives me bad shivers.

And I'll say again what I'm sure I've said upthread -- he's one of the best lyricists working in any genre, writerly without overdoing it (usually), ambitious and funny and smart. He tries things that nobody else would think of, and pulls them off.

I agree with this, and absolutely love his first several records. But I really didn't dig the divorce album, which I also thought was a drag, and I don't really like the new one, which to me brings to mind something totally MOR like Ray Lamontagne, albeit with a subtle sense of humor. "Animal Years" and "Historical Conquests" clear peaks in his catalog, imo. He needs good tunes and hooks and musical ideas to match the lyrics. Still been meaning to read his novel ...

So is the new one not "Historical Conquests"-ish? That's what I was hoping for from the single.

I only listened to 2/3rd of it, but it sounded very conventional and not memorable, more "commercial," by the standards of his niche, at least. But ymmv. And if you all say later it's worth revisiting I'll give it another shot.

Not in love with the new one but the first few albums of his career were great, great, great.

I like this new track -- sounds like Steve Forbert ripping off Bob Seger. I can see the objection that this is more AOR than his earlier stuff, but I have big soft spot for this kind of heartland shtick.

https://soundcloud.com/josh-ritter/where-the-night-goes

So I think this is a good album! True that it's his most heartland-rock record, but I am ok with heartland rock. Good tunes, his singing is loose and shaggy, and I like all of his words-tumbling-over-each-other cadences. "The Stone" is a perfect little poem.

Lying wide awake
In a different house
With different arms
Around you now
On a different street
In a different town
On the same old road
That the night comes down

Just listened to this EP Bringing in the Darlings and really loving it. Stripped down, no band, very basic, great songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5l5zMqip2k

New album is just okay (based on one listen). But I really like “I Still Love You Now and Then”

I'm actually listening to the new album, which is better than I did with the last couple.

He might have peaked with Brian Deck as a producer, since Jason Isbell is a kind of boring overseer, but there's some good stuff on here, particularly some good political stuff, at least as best I picked out on first listen.

Ritter seems like the ultimate "invisible to ILM" artist to me

I'm actually listening to the new album, which is better than I did with the last couple.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I’m on record as absolutely loving Beast in its Tracks, which in my mind is the last of his incredible run that starts with Animal Years. (Some good stuff on earlier albums too but just not at the same level.)

Of the most recent three albums—Sermon on the Rocks is a huge letdown. I just really dislike most of that record. But the last one, Gathering, is pretty good. “Cry Softly” is a lot of fun and “Myrna Loy” is heartbreaking. That album is worth hearing for sure. This new one is better than semon but not as good as Gathering.

Will get around to Gathering ASAP! I like his early stuff, but that run of The Animal Years, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, and So Runs the World Away is ace.

(Fun to skim this thread and learn that I've at least been consistent!)

Enjoying "Gathering" right now, thanks for the recco. The production/arrangements teeter on the brink of shambling affectation, but the songs are good and they sound like they're having a lot of fun.

My 5yo got really into “Cry Softly” so we play that all the time around the house. Trying not to psychoanalyze any of that.

Was thinking of all the (broadly speaking) singer/songwriters with extraordinary songs and albums right now: Finn, Darnielle, Springsteen...and was ready for this one to hold its own among them, but it’s not quite there after a listen. Still, sounds nice, good driving music, and as always some compelling lines and moments. “Old Black Magic” and “Blazing Highway Home” both work nicely.

Still, the Bringing Out The Darlings EP, just voice and guitar, is one of my favorites by anyone.

Have given his newest album exactly one listen but already feel like it might be my favorite of his in at least 5 years if not 10.

Wow. Dude has written some great songs.

Huh, there's some really interesting stuff going on with this new album, thank you for letting me know it exists!