Josh Ritter goes Indie

I've referred to this a couple of times in comments, but I think Josh deserves a full post for his latest, "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter." This is the new album of the year I had no idea was coming out, and it may well be my favorite record of the year so far.

Yeah that was said slightly for effect...what with a year that included new discs from White Stripes and New Pornographers and Wilco and Ryan Adams and Interpol (which I STILL haven't listened to "properly" yet) and a ton of others, how can Idaho boy Josh Ritter's disc end up on top?

This is Ritter's 5th album, so by no means is he a newbie to the art of putting together a fantastic album...but it may be his best yet. Not as introspective or moving as "The Animal Years" -- which was a fantastic album in its own right -- this one's more upbeat, more engaging, and more...indie. Josh has always been known for channelling his inner Bob Dylan (best showcased on the excellent, folk-operatic "Thin Blue Flame" from Animal Years) but in this one he also throws in dashes of Death Cab, Spoon, Wilco, and others. The key is that his references are just that...references that remind you of another artist but never come off as pastiche. No, this is not another "Rock N Roll", Ryan Adams' fun but synthetic love letter to all his musical inspirations. This is a portrait of an artist who has been able to take sound references, phrasings, styles that are strongly associated with other bands and make them his own. I think it's the earnestness with which he sings and plays that makes it sound authentic and not a rip-off.

So what we're left with is a fun, varied soundscape that keeps you interested and keeps you wondering what comes next. Highlights include the rolicking opener, "To the Dogs or Whatever," the Spoon-ish "Mind's Eye", the indie-folk (think M. Ward) of Open Doors (although its much more propulsive than I've ever heard M. Ward being), to the beautifully laid-back piano-sprinkled "Wait for Love." The sole track that comes off as a disaster is the 3rd track, something of a Eagles/Elton John/America mashup titled "Right Moves." Yes it is every bit as cheesy as the title sounds. For better or for worse it sticks out like a cowlick just waiting to be chopped off or gelled into submission.

So, give it a shot. The best part about this review is that I can actually give you the album just for reading this post. Well, Josh is helping me out by streaming the album on his site (don't you love the internets?) but I get a little credit, don't I?