The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

Idaho born singer-songwriter Josh Ritter, is 35 years younger than my musical idol Bob Dylan. If you know me, you know I generally have no respect for young, present day musicians, but Josh Ritter is good enough to break this mold. He picked up the guitar after hearing Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan’s duet, Girl From the North Country and his lyrics are influenced by Leonard Cohen, Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Ritter has five studio albums, including his newest release, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.

The opening track, To the Dogs or Whoever has very Dylanesque versus with a little bit of history thrown in. References to Casey Jones, General George Armstrong Custer, and Joan of Arc are made throughout the song. The next two songs, Mind’s Eye and Right Moves are both pounding and bass driven, and have the characteristic of pop music which appeals to the masses and would make both of them suitable for the radio. The reason I respect Josh Ritter more than other artists his age is his ability to create remarkable lyrics. “Oh bring me the love that can sweeten a sword / A boat that can love the rocks or the shore / The love of the iceberg reaching out for a wreck / Can you love me like the crosses love the nape of the neck?”. These lyrics aren’t lyrics that you’d find on any ordinary song on the top 40.

Ritter plays with a band for the first three tracks, before stripping down to acoustic guitar, strings, and a horn section for the highlight of the album. The Temptation of Adam is the story of a man and a woman in a missle silo during a nuclear war. At first, the woman pays no attention to the man, but after he makes a few witty jokes, “If this was a cold war we could keep each other warm / I said on the first occasion that I met Marie” she realizes that he’s good company in the lonely silo. Towards the end of the song, the protagonist realizes that their “love would live a half-life on the surface” and debates releasing the missile to ensure they could stay together. The song ends with Adam being tempted to press the big red button that would ensure his relationship with Marie, but would doom the rest of the world.

Other high points include, Edge of the World, a bubbly instrumental piece, and Empty Hearts, a piano drenched plea not to be let into the New Year with an empty heart. So next time you find yourself at Barnes and Noble, put down that Justin Timberlake CD and avoid Soulja Boy like the plague. Pick up Josh Ritter, and try something new.

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